The Beggar Lying in the Rain

On a rainy afternoon, I went out to walk around Taipei by myself. I was trying to find the Eslite bookstore, which is a common hang out place for many Taiwanese people who stay in the store to read the books without having to purchase them. As I was walking down the sidewalk in the rain, I noticed a beggar lying prostrate on the ground. As he lay there, his clothes and a cheap cardboard sign that he had written on were being soaked by the downpour. My heart was deeply moved to see such a sight, and I walked away sad because I did not know what I could give him. Beggars were not a new sight to me— I had seen many in Pittsburgh, and even others during my time in Taiwan. However, I had recently finished reading World Vision President Richard Stearn’s book, The Hole in Our Gospel, which made me think more about our response to the poor and needy in light of the gospel.

So, what should our response be? In the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus tells us plainly that one way we will be judged on the last day will be based on our love towards the poor and the needy. This passage is an easy one to ignore, but it is a critical extension of our understanding of the gospel. We were all once like the helpless beggar lying in the rain, but God rescued us and gave us new life and new hope. In response to God’s great grace and love, we must be a people of mercy and compassion. We must bring the light of the gospel to the unjust practices and systems in place that continue to oppress the poor and the needy, for the gospel is their only hope unto salvation. True righteousness requires us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God (Micah 6:8) in a way that we cannot simply just ignore the poor and the needy. I pray that God would continue to open my heart to the poor and needy around me, and help me show forth His great mercy and compassion.

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