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The Lesson of the Homeless Man ~ Author Unknown

It was a cold rainy day that Sabbath. The parking lot where the church services were held was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked into the meeting hall for services.

As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church hall. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church.

We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. Some people snickered, and all gossiped, but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later Sabbath services began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the hall opened. In came the homeless man walking down the main aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit where he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank.

There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man."

No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on his stand and said, "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today. If you judge people by their outward appearance, you have no time to love them."

James 2:1-9 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of [having in yourself] evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Click here to See Five lessons to help us think about the way we treat people.