Beggars telling beggars where to find food

Rev. Chujit visits Betty’s family.

by Leonardo Neitzel

The Missionary D.T. Niles once said that sharing the Gospel is really about one ‘beggar telling other beggars where to find food.’ Before coming to Christ as our Saviour, we are beggars, poor and condemned sinners, with no strength or power of our own to save ourselves. There is absolutely nothing we can do for God in order for Him to grant us salvation. We have no righteousness of our own, and no good works we do and no self-denial of our own will contribute to our salvation. Worse than beggars, that’s what we are. It is only by the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf is that we are saved.

However, once given grace by God through Christ, we are made heirs with Him for salvation. This is a treasure, and we are made spiritually rich for life eternal. This treasure is not stagnant either: it is active, flowing and overflowing from our heart. It is a gift that we can share freely for the well-being and salvation of others, to the praise of God. Once blessed with all treasures in Christ, He provides us with ways and means to pass them on to others. We see examples of this in the Bible, where individuals, who drank from the fountain of the living water through Jesus’ encounter with them, go forth in joy to tell others of the great blessings they have received. Once beggars, we now become spiritual millionaires in Christ, called to bless the lives of others to ‘declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.’ (1 Peter 2:9).

One Sunday morning in Kokkloi, Thailand, Lutheran Church–Canada’s missionary to the region Rev. Suchart Chujit travelled to his congregation. It was a gloomy morning and he was discouraged because few people had been attending service lately, despite multiple home calls and invitations extended during the week. As normal, he got to church early for prayer and to get the sanctuary ready for service. When he arrived, he noticed some youth wandering near the church, and decided to greet them and invite them to church. They replied that they couldn’t because they hadn’t had anything to eat and they were hungry. Rev. Chujit asked them whether they would go home, have breakfast, and then come back for service. One replied that he didn’t have a home, and the others mentioned their homes were too far away. So, Rev. Chujit invited them to go with them into the neighbourhood all together to find them something to eat. The youths gladly accepted his invitation.

After the breakfast, service was ready to begin. Few adults showed up that day, but Rev. Chujit was amazed to see the youths’ careful attention to what was being sung, preached, and prayed during the service. After worship, he asked for their addresses, to which he didn’t get positive response due to the circumstances. But a few details regarding the general area were sufficient for the pastor to find one house, and a connection was re-established.

Praying together with Betty and her family.

The ten year old girl, Betty (not her real name), was happy to see the Pastor and asked to introduce her father to him. During the following weeks Rev. Chujit visited and met regularly at this family’s home, introducing them to Christ. Some of the other youths would participate once in a while. During these visits, Rev. Chujit talked about Baptism – and Betty, who had never heard about Jesus, Christianity, or baptism before—asked to be baptized. Rev. Chujit is now teaching the Word of God to the family on a regular basis. Baptism will take place soon, and all heaven rejoices.

From a gloomy Sunday morning and discouragement in the ministry to a breakfast with strangers and the opportunity to share the Gospel—one beggar telling other beggars where to find food. Christ is our comfort in the midst of a multitude of discouragements.

From a gloomy Sunday morning and discouragement in the ministry to a breakfast with strangers and the opportunity to share the Gospel—one beggar telling other beggars where to find food.

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10: “As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

To God alone be the glory.

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Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel is Lutheran Church–Canada’s Executive for Missions and Social Ministry.

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