To Help or Not to Help
Where is the dividing line between being charitable and helping someone in need or creating dependence in someone else? I know this is a big topic nationally right now with all the bailouts and stuff, but I have been pondering this on a more personal level.
It's happened three times in the last month that different people who are close to our family have come to us asking for money. (Well, twice by the same person and another time by someone else.) In all three cases the money was needed for something important or to alleviate some dire circumstances. Unfortunately, Terence and I are skating the edge this month while we wait for some overdue checks to come in, so we weren't able to help much. But the question I have been asking myself is, if we had the money, would it have been right to bail them out anyway?
In one of the cases, we have provided money and other assistance many, many times over the years. In the other, it would be a first, but knowing the situation, I wonder if other aid isn't available.
As someone who is striving to become more like Christ, I have turned to the scriptures for guidance, but I'm still not sure. We are told in Matthew 5:42 "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away" and in D&C 42:42 "he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer." Certainly the Church teaches us to be self-reliant and not dependent on others, yet to be generous and charitable.
I don't know. In my own life we would have struggled much, much more if my parents had not been so generous of their resources with us when we needed it. I feel they were helping us to become independent (I'm not sure how they view it :-) but what if no matter how much help you give someone they still mismanage all their money away? Or spend it on destructive vices?
A dilemma. It's even harder when the people in question are people you love and care about.
Let me know what you think. And while you're at it, vote in my latest poll-- it's (another) good-natured debate between Terence and I.
It's happened three times in the last month that different people who are close to our family have come to us asking for money. (Well, twice by the same person and another time by someone else.) In all three cases the money was needed for something important or to alleviate some dire circumstances. Unfortunately, Terence and I are skating the edge this month while we wait for some overdue checks to come in, so we weren't able to help much. But the question I have been asking myself is, if we had the money, would it have been right to bail them out anyway?
In one of the cases, we have provided money and other assistance many, many times over the years. In the other, it would be a first, but knowing the situation, I wonder if other aid isn't available.
As someone who is striving to become more like Christ, I have turned to the scriptures for guidance, but I'm still not sure. We are told in Matthew 5:42 "Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away" and in D&C 42:42 "he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer." Certainly the Church teaches us to be self-reliant and not dependent on others, yet to be generous and charitable.
I don't know. In my own life we would have struggled much, much more if my parents had not been so generous of their resources with us when we needed it. I feel they were helping us to become independent (I'm not sure how they view it :-) but what if no matter how much help you give someone they still mismanage all their money away? Or spend it on destructive vices?
A dilemma. It's even harder when the people in question are people you love and care about.
Let me know what you think. And while you're at it, vote in my latest poll-- it's (another) good-natured debate between Terence and I.
Comments
But in other instantces there have been some honest hard working people who are in need of help, and I think you can tell the difference. pray about it.