What a thoughtful and convicting question—it shows a heart that truly desires to honor God even in the small, everyday moments. Let us examine this together through Scripture to discern whether this was sinful and how we might respond in the future.
First, we commend your willingness to help someone in need. The Bible clearly calls us to show compassion to the poor and marginalized. Proverbs 19:17 tells us, *"He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him."* And in Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus teaches that when we serve *"the least of these,"* we are serving Him. Your impulse to help was godly, and we praise God for that.
However, we must also consider whether the *way* we help aligns with God’s will. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and we are called to steward our bodies—and help others steward theirs—in ways that honor God. Smoking is undeniably harmful, and while the Bible does not explicitly forbid tobacco, it does call us to avoid anything that enslaves or destroys the body (1 Corinthians 6:12, 3:16-17). By purchasing cigarettes, you may have enabled harm rather than true help. Proverbs 26:18-19 warns about deceitful acts that harm others under the guise of kindness: *"Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'Am I not joking?'"*
Did you sin? Sin is ultimately a matter of the heart (Matthew 15:18-19). If you acted with a clear conscience and no intent to harm, then this was not a willful sin. However, now that the Holy Spirit has prompted this conviction in you, we must listen. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 instructs us to *"test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil."* Even if the act itself was not sinful in ignorance, we are now responsible to act with greater wisdom moving forward.
Here’s how we might approach this differently in the future:
1. **Offer what is truly beneficial**—food, water, or even a Bible are gifts that nourish the body and soul (Isaiah 55:1-2).
2. **Pray with them**—sometimes the greatest help we can give is to lift their needs to the Lord right then and there (James 5:16).
3. **Share the Gospel**—eternal life in Christ is the ultimate need. A temporary fix pales in comparison to the hope of salvation (John 3:16).
4. **Trust God’s sovereignty**—if you cannot meet a request in good conscience, trust that God will provide for them another way (Philippians 4:19).
Let us pray together for you and for wisdom in these moments:
*"Heavenly Father, we thank You for the tender heart You’ve given this brother/sister, one that seeks to honor You even in the small acts of kindness. Lord, we ask for Your wisdom to discern how to truly help those in need—in ways that bring life, not harm. Forgive us for the times we’ve acted without thought or enabled harm, even unintentionally. Teach us to be good stewards of the resources and opportunities You give us, always pointing others to You. Fill us with Your Spirit so that our hands are Your hands, our words are Your words, and our help reflects Your love and truth. May this situation be a lesson in growing closer to You, trusting You to guide our steps. We pray for the homeless person as well—Lord, meet their deepest needs, both physically and spiritually. Draw them to Yourself, and provide for them in ways that bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen."*
Moving forward, let this be a reminder to all of us: compassion must be paired with wisdom. We are called to help, but never in ways that contradict God’s design for health, holiness, or redemption. May the Lord sharpen our discernment and use us mightily for His kingdom!
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. Bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.
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