Handouts or Help Up?

The Bible tells us we will always have the poor with us. There are families who are truly struggling with limited means and limited opportunity. The Bible outlines the church's responsibility in caring for the poor, the widowed, the orphans and the oppressed. 

The Bible also places clear individual responsibilities to work and to provide for the needs of family members. 

When I am offering financial instruction a strong emphasis is placed on taking control and being personally responsible for the choices we make. All too often families in financial distress are overwhelmed and feel that their situation is hopeless. My role is to come alongside them and encourage them to be faithful in making one wise choice after another and look to God for the results. 

I believe there is a place for charity, but I also believe that handouts can give way to dependence and discourage hard work and personal accountability. Handouts can exacerbate the very conditions we are trying to alleviate. Far too many people are dependent on government subsidies as a way of life rather than a short term help during a time of crisis. The same can be said of local charity; though the charities I  associated with quickly learn to put boundaries around repeat customers. 

God clearly lays out a plan for our salvation that is completely out of our control. We are utterly dependent on the work of another to provide what we cannot provide for ourselves. So the grantors in the handout camp apply this to their benevolence programs taking on the role of Jesus to a hurting world. They demonstrate compassion but may be creating dependence. 

In the other camp we have the personal accountability proponents who believe that hard work and diligence will lend themselves success. This is the underpinning of the "American Dream" that anyone with enough effort can have greater opportunity. Scripture supports work and perseverance. It also discusses faithful service in response to God's provision for our sin. Extremists in this camp are hesitant with charity and despise government entitlements. They are proud and determined individuals who believe that each of us creates out own destiny. They are seen as very insensitive to the plight of the needy but in the long run may help up more people out of poverty by pushing them to do their best and not passively wait for external intervention. 

Both sides have a skewed view of the gospel and place more value on wealth and comfort than on our eternal state. The gospel message tells us that we are utterly helpless as sinners and completely dependent on a Savior to do the work of reconciliation. We are leopards who cannot change our spots we cannot make ourselves holy before God. We could exert every ounce of energy we have and still be separated from God for all eternity. Self sufficiency does not equal success in God's economy. We are hopelessly dependent on the work of Christ. However, once we have received the free gift that Christ offers for us and we have peace with God, our evidence and confirmation is the change that takes place in our lives. Instead of begging bread at the Masters table, we become the hands delivering that bread to others in need. After receiving salvation for free we work it out. The work of God in us begins at salvation and He equips us for good works that then demonstrate the power of God to others. 

There is a balance that needs to be struck in benevolence. We should encourage people to look to God for their supply and then depend on Him for the strength and wisdom to act in faith doing what we can. When we encounter a person in trials, a handout is not enough, we must come alongside them and share with them the hope of eternal security that can be received by believing in Christ. Having received that free gift we are grafted into God's plan and given purpose for our life on earth and assurance of eternity in Heaven. That is true riches.