How do we deal with people who are in chronic need?

What a loaded question.  It was originally asked by a man in my church who had begun to help someone financially, but soon realized there was no end in sight of the need.  He was stuck now in a sticky dilemma, stop helping and “lose” the original investment of charity, or continue down a path that might lead to abuse.  Many Christians find themselves wanting to assist the needy, but hesitant to get involved due to the vulnerability it leaves them financially and emotionally.

The scriptural basis for Christian charity is numbing.  You cannot possibly read the gospels without hearing loud and clear the mandate to help the poor.  Unfortunately, we live in a society that has crammed materialism into the American psyche.  The Christian struggles with giving to the poor, either not knowing how or who to give to, or more sadly, being in a financial position laden with debt that they are unable to give.

With that said, I believe it’s important when dealing with individuals in need, that you take into consideration some simple guidelines.

First – what is the motivation for assisting.  If you feel manipulated into helping, this is not a good sign.  As Christians, we should be motivated out of compassion and love, not out of guilt.  If you sense that you’re being manipulated, walk away, I guarantee there will be more worthy opportunities to show compassion.

Second – will your assistance really be helping the individual in question?  If I pay the $400 to get the family’s lights turned back on, does that really help when the overall picture means there’s a $1400 bill due next month?  If you went as far as paying the entire $1800, is there an income that will be able to pay the monthly bill from here on out?  Is that the best use of your $1800, or should you consider donating that money to an agency that can provide case management that will tackle the bigger picture of someones life?

Third – has this person displayed characteristics that the book of Proverbs speaks strongly about?  You have to take Proverbs into account when dealing with people in need.  It is very specific on how to handle the poor, and also how to handle people who display laziness, rebellion, and outright contempt for the principles of God’s Word.   God intends for us to use wisdom in our daily affairs, and we shouldn’t throw out wisdom when it comes to charity.

I believe these simple guidelines help in making decisions regarding those in need.  I much rather err on the side of compassion than to be hardhearted towards a fellow human being.  In the end, we’re all living by the grace of God, and that should lead to a humble approach towards our fellow man indeed!