Giving money to those who have lived a lifestyle of wanton disregard for godly principles, is like opening up your toilet lid and flushing the money into the septic.
No good comes from throwing money after those who have had a proven record of wasting their money on foolishness while choosing not to pay bills.
The better thing to do is to offer to help them to learn how to handle their money.
A few years ago someone called my home to ask for money to pay electric bills. I asked her if she smoked, she said yes but she was trying to quit. Then I asked her if she ever ate out at restaurants, such as McDonalds or other fast food places, she said yes but rarely.
This same young single mother who had never been married, proclaimed loudly that she got government funds but it wasn't enough. She asked to have money to pay her electric bill because they had no heat and they were cold. It was then that I knew I was dealing with a liar. It was August, it was past 80 degrees outside. I told her to open her windows to let in the warm air.
She became angry rather than ashamed I might add, which is a clue. Those who are honest and humble do not become angry when told no, they display humility and shame.
Chances are good that woman was not trying to quit smoking, she probably ate out frequently as many poor people on government assistance do, and we know she was not cold from lack of electrical heat.
So often believers are afraid to call people to account. Their need to feel special from giving over rides their good sense and a need to help people by "teaching them how to fish" rather than just "giving them a fish."
Believers need to stop feeling guilty about having to say no to manipulators who are lazy while demanding our hard earned resources when they will not properly handle their own.
I have respect for those who have messed up but want to learn to make it on their own through hard work and diligence with their available resources. But I have little tolerance for those who just want a hand out to remain lazy and unproductive.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."
1 Timothy 5:8 "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
No good comes from throwing money after those who have had a proven record of wasting their money on foolishness while choosing not to pay bills.
The better thing to do is to offer to help them to learn how to handle their money.
A few years ago someone called my home to ask for money to pay electric bills. I asked her if she smoked, she said yes but she was trying to quit. Then I asked her if she ever ate out at restaurants, such as McDonalds or other fast food places, she said yes but rarely.
This same young single mother who had never been married, proclaimed loudly that she got government funds but it wasn't enough. She asked to have money to pay her electric bill because they had no heat and they were cold. It was then that I knew I was dealing with a liar. It was August, it was past 80 degrees outside. I told her to open her windows to let in the warm air.
She became angry rather than ashamed I might add, which is a clue. Those who are honest and humble do not become angry when told no, they display humility and shame.
Chances are good that woman was not trying to quit smoking, she probably ate out frequently as many poor people on government assistance do, and we know she was not cold from lack of electrical heat.
So often believers are afraid to call people to account. Their need to feel special from giving over rides their good sense and a need to help people by "teaching them how to fish" rather than just "giving them a fish."
Believers need to stop feeling guilty about having to say no to manipulators who are lazy while demanding our hard earned resources when they will not properly handle their own.
I have respect for those who have messed up but want to learn to make it on their own through hard work and diligence with their available resources. But I have little tolerance for those who just want a hand out to remain lazy and unproductive.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat."
1 Timothy 5:8 "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Proverbs 10:4 "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."
Proverbs 19:24 "The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth."
Proverbs 13:4 "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."
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