A key part of Christianity is helping others in need. Jesus exemplified this throughout his ministry. As he traveled from place to place, he always helped those who asked him for help, whether they were afflicted with illness or disability, whether they were poor or hungry, whether they were "good Jews" or outcast from the religious community. He asked his disciples to continue to do this in his name.
Beyond that, most people are generous, especially with people in desperate need. We want to be helpful, provided we're not being taken advantage of. If we hear of a family in need because of illness or disaster, we happily give money, food, or anything else.
Sometimes we find reasons not to give, though. We wonder about the motives or if people are worthy of our charity. We wonder if our gifts will be appreciated or not. We wonder if we should focus our resources elsewhere, usually "closer to home."
We have limited resources, so we can only help so many people. Unfortunately, though, our excuses are sometimes rooted more in misplaced priorities rather than in honest discernment. How should we make these decisions? How can our outreach be wise and faithful at the same time?
1 comment:
And when we realize that we can give absolutely everything and still come up short, there is frustration that I do not understand. And that pesky "the poor will be with you always" is frequently quoted (and I hope it is a gross misinterpretation) to support giving service a good shot but when it's Miller Time, it's Miller Time, and the poor will be there anyway.
Will someone mind paving this spiritual path? The bumps are killing me.
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