“Broyni, give me 1 Ghanaian Cedi.”
“Friend, buy me water.”
“Give me money.”
“Give me your water bottle.”
“Give me money to send my son to school.”
“Give me, whatever is in my hand right then.”
These are questions that I am asked every single day as I walk the streets of Ghana. My heart breaks a little bit each time I have to tell another sweet child, that I cannot give them money. My heart breaks a little every time, I turn down another mother that is begging me to help support her children to go to school. My heart breaks a little more, every time I have to say no once more.
Every part of me wants to help every single child that asks for something. I want to support all of them to have a good education, books and supplies for school, to have a good meal and clean water. I want to show each one of them generosity. I want to show each person I talk to, the love of Christ and give until it hurts.
But am I really making an impact on them if I just give them a cedi? Will giving them what they need temporarily leave an impact on them eternally? Doesn’t the Bible talk about it over and over again, how we are to live generously because Jesus did just that? What’s the balance?
This is where I’ve struggled this month. I want to give everything I have to these people. To love them till it hurts, and bless them like the Lord has blessed me. I tried one day to buy a water for a boy at basketball, but as soon as I did, there were instantly 15 kids surrounding me and asking me to buy them one too.
Last month, we lived in a village with no electricity, no running water, and no easy access to transportation. These people lived off of very little every day, but were so joyful. They never asked us for anything, but instead gave the little they had to bless us.
This month, we are living in a tourist area. People from all over the world come to Cape Coast, and interact with the people here. Somewhere along the way, children as young as four have been taught to ask the bronyis (white people) for money. Many people see Americans and instantly see the opportunity to get something out of a conversation or friendship.
What’s the balance of living generiously like God has called us and teaching kids not to expect things from people?
Prayer.
This month, I’ve learned to ask the Lord and to listen to the Holy Spirit for discernment for when the Lord wants me to give out of what he has blessed me with.
Yes, God calls us as believers to be generous. But when it hurts more than it helps, that is where the problem comes in. Yes, that temporary satisfaction of a bag of water would satisfy their need, but it won’t satisfy their spiritual need. Yes, giving them money to go to school would allow a child to have education, but what about when the money is gone. It will give them earthly knowledge, but it won’t give them spiritual knowledge. Yes, giving a woman my food would help her hunger temporarily, but when she is longing for something more, I miss the point. She is longing for a hunger that only Jesus can satisfy.
I want to live my life in a way of living and loving generously. I want to give all I have away, and give in such away that people don’t see me. They don’t see the color of my skin, my nationality, or my religion. I want to live in such a way that the only thing people see is Jesus.
“Look for Christ and you will find him. And with him everything else.” C.S Lewis
