He Needs One More Than You

I ran across Proverbs 31 during our Thai Mother's Day at the Cheung Doi Church a bit ago.

It seemed fresh, like I had never read it before.  Maybe I was reading it with new eyes.  Here's the pertinent part:

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel—
   it is not for kings to drink wine,
   not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵ lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
   and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
⁶ Let beer be for those who are perishing,
   wine for those who are in anguish!
⁷ Let them drink and forget their poverty
   and remember their misery no more.
 ⁸ Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
   for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;
   defend the rights of the poor and needy.

 This is advice from his mom on how to be a good ruler.  It seems like a pretty clear answer to the question people often pose about people asking for money on the road:  "What if he just goes and buys booze with it?"

If he does, so what.  He probably needs it more than you. 

If you are a believer in God, then it is your duty to lead our churches and our country on behalf of the poor and needy.  That means no drink for you.

Next time someone uses that as a reason to not give a person some change, I'll encourage them to just go buy him a beer if they aren't comfortable giving him cash.  After all, it's biblical.




Larry James also posted on this a few months ago.  He's also been quoted as saying, "If I feel like I need a drink after a long day, you can be sure someone who has been wandering without a home could use more than one."