Or will they always be poor?
2006-09-30 06:38:40 · 7 answers · asked by Xo 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's a choice issue.
Charity, as stated before, means "acts of love." The question is whether that act of love is accepted - and in what spirit.
Just as some people have done charitable acts without the love (for show, power-seeking, favorable press), others can receive those acts without the love (taking advantage of guilt, laziness, etc.)
It's a choice issue.
There is - and should be - no real excuse for the argument that the poor deserve their situation (in most cases). To aid them is a Real Duty. But we must also ask the question, "What next?" To give without engaging the whole person you plan to help - seeing what they're about - would be silly and wasteful. It is wrong to be Selfish on the one hand and Stupid on the other.
As a Christian, I obey the directives/commands of Jesus Christ (not perfectly, of course - yet). He commands that I look into the truth of a matter, regardless of what I wish. He commands charity, but ALSO commands prudence. AND He commands that I examine my heart when I do so - for WHY you do something is very important.
It's a choice issue - for BOTH giver and receiver.
2006-09-30 07:08:20 · answer #1 · answered by blktiger@pacbell.net 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the type of charity. Sometimes giving food, money, or clothing can be a help to someone who is between jobs. Sometimes someone needs something more like job training and financial counseling. Most charitable relief organizations offer both immediate help as well as training or things to help in the long term--like giving a family a goat to provide milk, or helping to establish a small farm and teaching a family how to work and care for it.
The word "charity" actually means "acts of love." I think everyone benefits from those.
2006-09-30 13:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by happygirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the charity. If it is linked with responsibility, then yes they do benefit. Or in some cases such as terminal diseases it is more about just relieving suffering. I do think that just giving away money can lead to an unhealthy dependence if it is not combined with teaching responsibility.
2006-09-30 13:43:25 · answer #3 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the hardest things to realize in life is that people can become trapped by circumstances that they had very little control over.
A young woman falls in love, gets married and has three children. Everything is fine up to the point of her husband walking out. Now she can't support herself and three kids. The father skates free while she is condemned to a life of welfare and misery.
Get a job is easy to say and difficult to do especially when so many jobs are part time and no benefits.
Get an education is also easy to say but when you have three children and your working two or three part time jobs just to stay afloat school is out of the question.
Charity helps many people.
2006-09-30 13:55:03 · answer #4 · answered by drg5609 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those who have actually helped the poor know the answer and would not need to ask such a question.
2006-09-30 13:41:55 · answer #5 · answered by ___ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 26:11
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.
2006-09-30 13:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by Ken 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give someone a fish and they eat for a day. Teach someone to fish and they eat for a lifetime.
2006-09-30 13:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋