The Beggar & The BMW

BMW makes a great automobile, but there are times when I wonder about some of the people driving them.

Like today.

This morning, Dorcas and I were stopped at a red light in downtown Lima. Just ahead of us was a large blue BMW sedan. A wonderful car. Just ahead of the BMW was a beggar, a man that we know, a man with no arms. Zero arms. He spends his days by going from car to car, begging for spare change, and asking people to drop the coins directly into his shirt pocket.

As we watched the armless man go from car to car ahead of us, we saw some people drop coins into his shirt pocket. Taxi drivers, in particular, seemed to be very sympathetic and generous.

Then the man approached the driver of the BMW, a car which probably costs more money than the beggar will ever see in his entire life.

As the beggar approached the driver's side window, the man piloting the BMW refused to even acknowledge him.

The driver just kept staring ahead. He didn't roll down his window, he didn't give the beggar any money, he didn't even shake his head to say no to him.

He just kept staring ahead, ignoring the man.

This reminds me of the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.

The rich man apparently ignored the beggar Lazarus for his entire life, and then, from hell, saw Lazarus resting comfortably at Abraham's side.

The rich man faced an eternity in agony, while Lazarus faced an eternity in comfort.

The rich man had lived a life full of the finest luxuries that his world could offer. Maybe he even drove a BMW, too.

But he ignored the beggar Lazarus, to his eternal regret.

The driver of the car today in Lima could have been operating a BMW or a Mercedes or an Audi or a Porsche or a Hummer.

It is not his car that matters.

It is his heart.

Who are you ignoring today? Who is it that makes you feel uncomfortable? Who is it that you are trying to avoid?

Be careful. In doing so, you may be missing an opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone.

And someday soon, be it here on earth or later in eternity, you may regret it.