From One Beggar to Another…

“Evangelism is like one hungry beggar telling another hungry beggar where there is bread.”

This quote has been attributed to the famous 19^th-century preacher Charles Spurgeon.

I first heard this statement years ago from someone who shared her personal testimony with me. Ever since, it’s stuck with me. I never have been able to think of a more powerful and accurate picture of what the right heart of evangelism should be.

In what has been called “The Beatitudes”, Matthew 5:3-10 records Jesus’ words about those who receive the benefits of belonging to God:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Notice that this list contains nothing about those who are self-righteous, those feeling secure enough in their wealth and possessions, or those who look down on or treat others with disregard. What Jesus is saying is the exact opposite! Those who are considered blessed, or by a new nature reflect the joy and peace of God in heart and action, are those who know they need Him. And those who know their own helpless state will not only be grateful for God’s grace and mercy in their own lives, they will be much more inclined to show others grace and mercy and point them to Him as well.

Humility and Service

We’re all beggars in need of bread. Those of us who have found the unending, everlasting Bread of life (John 6:35) have the responsibility to tell other beggars where to find Him.

We should never lose sight of how we were saved from sin. We should never forget that we are always and forever dependent upon God for His gracious and faithful provision. We are also always indebted to Him. We could never repay Him, of course, but we have been called to a life of obedience and worship in response. Jesus has set the supreme example for us:

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:3-8).

A Beggar Called by God

The Apostle Paul once thought he was doing God’s work and took pride in His status and accomplishments: “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Phillippians 3:4-6).

But then Jesus met him face-to-face on the road to Damascus. And in no uncertain terms, Paul was shown how little all those things meant…and in fact, how sinful his actions had been, rather than righteous! He once found his identity and purpose in those things. But now, he found the Way, Truth and Life, and suddenly nothing else mattered but Him:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…” (Philippians 3:7-9).

Paul once thought He was a gift to God, showing others the way to salvation through strict obedience to the law (though at that time, God’s law had been confused by human teachings). But in this meeting with Jesus Christ, he came to realize that he was the one in need of salvation. He was a beggar all this time, and now he realized how destitute his life really was. In His grace, God showed him where to find true life and purpose. And Paul’s heart was stirred to share this with other “beggars” to whom God would lead him.

Paul wrote: “I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed” (1 Corinthians 15:9-11)

Beggars Finding Bread

One of those beggars was a woman named Lydia, whom he met in Philippi. He and those with him shared the Gospel with her and other women gathered at a riverside on the Sabbath. She wasn’t a beggar in human terms; she was likely a fairly wealthy businesswoman in that day! Yet she heard Paul’s preaching, and she was changed:

“Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

Then there was the jailer in the Philippian prison where Paul and Silas spent a night after being unjustly accused, beaten and chained. There, they praised God and sang songs of worship! The other prisoners heard them. When an earthquake shook open the prison doors, they didn’t run away. The jailer, however, fearing the worst – that the prisoners had escaped and he would be executed by his cruel superiors – was ready to kill himself.

Until Paul cried out and stopped him: “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here” (Acts 16:28). Suddenly, this powerful jailer recognized he wasn’t so powerful after all. He was a beggar, on the brink of death, yet wanting to live. He fell down before them, trembling, and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (16:29-30).

We are not told why the jailer asked them this question. Perhaps he had heard them worshiping, which ushered in the earthquake, and he thought them to have some sort of supernatural powers.

Whatever the reason, they took this opportunity to tell this man who in desperation was on his knees before them, that his hope and life was simply in believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (16:31). And they shared the word of the Lord with him and his household. The jailer became their servant that night, grateful for them showing him the frailty of life, the neediness in his own heart, and where to find the “Bread” that would sustain him.

Pointing to Jesus

God has put each one of us in a position of influence. Are you telling those around you about what Jesus Christ has done for you?

After Jesus healed the demonic in the Gentile country of the Gadarenes, the man begged to come with Jesus and be with Him. But instead, Jesus instructed him to “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And the man did: “…he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:38-39).

Think of the influence of the eunuch from Ethiopia, who had “great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians” (Acts 8:27). God sent the apostle Philip to this man as he traveled through the desert, returning home to Ethiopia. Timed perfectly – as God does best! – Philip came to the man just as he was reading from the Old Testament a passage that he longed to understand better. It was the perfect Scripture for Philip to tell him about Jesus. The man was baptized and then returned on his way “rejoicing” (8:39). Imagine the testimony he carried with him as he returned to his high royal position, and once again had the ear of the all-powerful queen of the nation!

Paul instructed Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). People won’t always be ready to hear, but you must always be ready to teach. No matter what the cost: “…be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

In short, remember you are a beggar showing other beggars where to find bread – eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Paul could look back and say that he indeed dedicated his life to showing others the joy that awaits all who come to salvation:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

There are many people now desperate and ready to hear the hope that you have found in Jesus Christ. If they know to call on Him, they will be saved (Romans 10:13). But, “how then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14).

You found the bread. It’s time to go show other beggars where it is!