My post called What’s the Best Way to Help the Poor is up today over at Christian Personal Finance. I wanted to provide a link to it from here because I had a lot of fun writing that post and wanted to also start a good discussion over there as well.
Sometimes the very things we think will help the poor end up hurting them and the very things they really need – we don’t give to them.
Too often we only want to help the people who “deserve it”, but is that the right way of thinking about helping the poor? Remember, Jesus said to love our neighbors as ourselves – well what does that mean when it comes to the poor, the marginalized, the weak and infirmed?
So what are the best ways to help the poor? I’d love to hear your thoughts – so check out the post over at Christian PF!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
The article is worth the read, very nice job! The only thing I can add is that you should help yourself first. Because if you help yourself, you will have more resources to help the poor and you won’t be part of the poor. This applies both physically and spiritually!
Great article and very thought provoking. I give as I feel God leads me. Sometimes I give to homeless people. Sometimes not. I also give to organizations that provide relief and promote the glory of God. This is how I feel I have been led. What are we to do with the wealth provided us? I believe we have an emergency fund, are debt free and contributing to a retirement fund as to not be a burden to others when we are old. After those parameters, giving can be beyond a 10th of income. It is okay for us to sacrifice for others, actually it is an appropriate response to God’s grace. We should give in love, with no thought to return, as God leads us and let Him work out the details.
I hate it when we stand in judgement over someone else. Lots of folks are poor because they got themselves into it. But not everyone! Circumstances, medical bills, a string of bad luck, job loss. I think we all need to be willing to sacrifice for others regardless of what they do with that sacrifice BUT be discerning enough to say no and to hold back when we know it will be wasted. But to give freely when we feel we should.
.-= Ted @broketofree´s last blog ..Oh, I have no money either- lets go shopping! =-.
Bible Debt – thanks for checking out the blog! I don’t know if I like saying “help ourselves first” – maybe it’s just semantics, but something about that doesn’t feel right. I do agree that we need to be financially and spiritually prepared to help others, which means we need to have our own ducks in a row.
Donna – great comment! I really like your point of sacrificial giving out of love, with no thought of return as an appropriate response to God’s grace.
Ted, I agree, too often we are quick to judge and not-so-quick to help. We do need to be discerning, but always looking for opportunities to be a neighbor to others.
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