It was a typical steaming August Oklahoma afternoon. I had just gotten off of work and was heading for the Interstate. As usual, it was crowded, but more so that day. I had to wait through several lights before advancing. Must be a wreck up ahead, I thought, as I waited impatiently and wondered if the AC would ever cool down the truck.

I noticed a homeless person standing on the side of the street. Not unusual for this area of town. I had seen them many times before. What was odd was that people were actually stopping in front of him. I suddenly heard honking, saw people waving and giving him the thumbs up. I couldn't imagine what was going on.

Then I saw his sign: Homeless, Hot, Need a Beer.

People were flocking to him and giving him money. His toothless smile, nodding of his head to the donators started me to wonder. Was he really homeless…..I have heard of people scamming like this and making thousands of dollars a year. I knew he had to be hot…..he had on a denim jacket over his filthy T-shirt. Need a Beer…..was this a clever way to attract attention or would he really spend his catch on alcohol. I don't know the answers to any of these questions. It is not for me to judge his circumstances.

In an instant I had to make a decision. Would I help him? Part of me wanted to reward him for being so clever. Obviously his sign was working. The other part of me just didn't want my money to go to a beer when he needed so much more.

Suddenly the scripture "If you do this for the least of these, you do this for me," popped into my head.

Matthew 10: 42. "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."

I rolled the window down and dropped a dollar into his tin cup. He mouthed the words, "Thank You."

Off I went into the evening in my cooled-down truck, away from my good paying job, on to my nice air-conditioned home, with food on the table and enough money to buy me something to drink.

I had choices. Maybe he didn't.