Introduction: (We are frequently confronted with people wanting money. Our conscience tugs at us to help every case, but our sense tells us it s not always best. There are specific principles in the Bible that govern how we help others. This study will explore some of those principles.)1. Not Responsible For More Than Needs: (Someone says they need money for a trip or to pay a bill. Are we obligated? Just because someone asks for something, do we have to fulfill that request? Prosperity and political philosophy have caused us to redefine poverty. In our mentality a person can have a warm home, vehicles, TV with cable, a months supply of food and still be poor. This is not poverty in the biblical sense. Poverty is doing without real needs like food, and clothing (I Tim. 6:6-8 ). Are we responsible to help beyond these needs?)
A. Responsible: I Jn. 3:17 (There is no question we have a duty to help our brother or sister when they are in need. If we fail to help as we should we are not showing God s love in our life.)
2. Can t Eliminate Suffering: Mk. 14:7 (While making a point about caring for him, Jesus says we will always have poor people.)B. Needs: I Tim. 6:6-8 (Just exactly what is a need? Someone says, "I NEED something." Is it a need or a want? The Bible teaches us to be content with the basic necessities of life. But God doesn t leave things in those general terms. Paul defines needs here as food and clothing.) Mt. 6:11, Heb. 13:5 (Jesus echoed the same concept when he taught us to pray for daily food. The same sentiments are in other passages as well. While we may want to help with things beyond these basics, we need to understand that God s view of poverty and need is different from our own.)
A. Humanitarian: Prov. 14:21, 31, Prov. 17:5, Prov. 19:17, Prov. 21:13, Prov. 29:7 (Just listen to all these passages that tell us we must have compassion on the poor. Though we can t eliminate all suffering, we have to have some interest in trying.) Gal. 6:10 (We simply must use our opportunities to help when we can, especially fellow Christians.)
3. Can t Subsidize Laziness: Prov. 19:15 (Some poverty, hunger, is caused by laziness. Are we obligated to hand money or even food to the lazy? Is it even right for us to supplement laziness?)B. The Purpose In Trying: II Cor. 9:7-13 (When we do try to help, whether it s as individuals or a congregation, we must remember the purpose is to glorify God. Our goal is not to eliminate poverty. That cannot happen so that goal is destined to fail. Our goal is to glorify God by showing his love to the world. That is a very attainable goal.)
A. If One Won t Work: Prov. 20:4, II Thes. 3:10 (The sluggard has no food and begs. Is he given anything? This verse says he has nothing. Paul commanded that if a person refused to work, they were not to eat. Does that mean we MUST feed the lazy person? No. In fact, it suggests we MUST NOT feed such a person. So if a person wears a sign that says, "will work for food", find out. Offer them some simple work in exchange for food and you ll find out who s lazy. Work is the acid test to surmise the legitimacy of a need.)
4. Can t Subsidize Sinful Lifestyle: (A sad reality of many panhandlers is that many seek funds to support their sinful habits. A man receives money from the church and procures the services of a prostitute. A person stinking of booze "needs" money. Are we right to be giving money to these situations?)B. But Can We Judge: Mt. 7:20 (Some will hasten to say we can t judge whether or not a person is lazy and that it s not our place. But Jesus says we know people by their fruits. It IS our place to inspect the fruit of others. It IS our place to obey the command that if one won t work, they shouldn t eat.) Acts 11:29 (The disciples made a decision to help needy saints. Making such a decision involves judgment. If God gave us the responsibility to make such decisions, he gave us the responsibility to make judgments involved in these decisions.)
A. Stumbling Block: Rom. 14:21 (Paul warns us not to exercise our liberties in a way that causes another to stumble or sin. If we lazily cast money at a bad situation to salve our conscience, are we exercising a liberty to help that winds up being hurtful? Are we contributing to someone else s problems if we give money without thought?)
5. Can t Subsidize Irresponsibility: (An old saying says poor people have poor ways. We hesitate to say this in a world of political correctness, but it s true. Sometimes people get in bad circumstances by their own doing. Does God require us to hand money to people in these situations?)B. Shun And Rebuke: Eph. 5:11 (We are to despise and rebuke these evil works. If we blindly give money to suspicious characters, are we really despising these evil lifestyles? Are we missing a chance to rebuke? Why not offer food, fuel, clothes or work? Where does the Bible say we must give money to every person off the street who asks?)
A. Some Poverty Is Self Induced: Prov. 10:4, Prov. 21:17, Prov. 23:21 (The Bible clearly teaches that some people are poor because of bad habits or mismanagement. Certainly not all poor fit this category, in fact maybe not even most. But some fit and we do a disservice if we fail to recognize this fact.)
Conclusion: Lk. 10:33-35 (How much money did the good Samaritan give to the person he helped? NONE! Not one copper coin! He gave time, supplies and care. He spent money on behalf of the victim. But he didn t throw him money and walk away. That would have been irresponsible and uncaring. And it often is today. When we are confronted with needs, we should be willing to help real needs. We can t always tell what s legitimate, but we can give the kind of help that is more fail safe.)B. Real Help: Mt. 25:34-36 ("I was hungry and you gave me money. I was thirst and you gave me money. I was sick and you gave me money." Is that what the Lord said? We get the idea that these needs were often helped without money. If we give more money to a person who is irresponsible with what little money they have, how are we helping? What if we address their basic need for food and clothes while giving them attention? That would take energy, but it would be REAL help. And it would be in the spirit of the help Christ teaches us to give.)
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