Helping Hands

[Admon Mikha'el]

I always understood that Christians were to help those in need…but it’s a thing I’ve seldom seen…I’ve seen Christian families judged by other Christians for being poor, and treated like third class citizens. People excluded from the Christian family events because they cannot contribute much… I saw one family, the husband and father went down with a blown thyroid…three months in the hospital, huge weight loss and the normal post thyroid storm craziness…people visited him and told him to stay at home, and get his strength back before returning to work…but when he asked “Are you willing to help support my family while I do that?” they ran like rabbits….He saw no help at all from Christians…Nothing at all…Yet he had helped anybody he saw that needed it up till his health broke.

So, what do you say? Are you willing to support or help support another family? Couple? Individual? When they have a need? Personally, I’m willing…I have done so and will again…but truthfully, I expect nothing from other Christians…Nothing but disappointment.

This is something from what I have seen…Its not based on anything I need

 

[Downunder]

So, what do you say? Are you willing to support or help support another family? Couple? Individual? When they have a need? Personally, I’m willing…I have done so and will again…but truthfully, I expect nothing from other Christians…Nothing but disappointment.

Yes you speak to a shameful truth - that many Christians, including my own Pentecostal church, are still materialists at heart - the prosperity gospel - blessings are measured in terms of new cars, home improvements -
a comfortable lifestyle.
In our church the poor in money gravitate together and the rich in money stick to themselves - a true proverb - birds of a feather flock together.

My observation of this blind denial of scripture is that many people remain essentially capitalist and seek God's provision to bless their lives materially.
Being a Christian comes second to the fundamentals of immediate family, money and lifestyle - but Jesus gives us a new family - one that does have poor cousins.
For me I had been a Marxist and a sharer before I came to the Lord - my conversion to the gospel only supported my desire to share and care for others. One houseleader admonished me for giving away a small coloured TV set
to a person in very dysfunctional circumstances, who had listened to the gospel and had started coming to meetings.

Luke 10:34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
10:35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
10:36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?”

The requirement is to be a Christian first and a citizen in society second.

 

[Downunder]

1Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Yes you speak to a shameful truth - that many Christians, including my own Pentecostal church, are still materialists at heart - the prosperity gospel - blessings are measured in terms of new cars, home improvements -
a comfortable lifestyle.
In our church the poor in money gravitate together and the rich in money stick to themselves - a true proverb - birds of a feather flock together.

My observation of this blind denial of scripture is that many people remain essentially capitalist and seek God's provision to bless their lives materially.
Being a Christian comes second to the fundamentals of immediate family, money and lifestyle - but Jesus gives us a new family - one that does have poor cousins.
For me I had been a Marxist and a sharer before I came to the Lord - my conversion to the gospel only supported my desire to share and care for others. One houseleader admonished me for giving away a small coloured TV setospel and had started coming to meetings.

Luke 10:34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
10:35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
10:36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?”

The requirement is to be a Christian first and a citizen in society second.

I really don't think the prosperity gospel has to do with this at all...I do think, though, that its a matter of Christians focusing, as you say, on material wealth at the expense of others....They disagree that we are blessed so we can be a blessing.

 

[JerryfromMass]

I always understood that Christians were to help those in need…but it’s a thing I’ve seldom seen…I’ve seen Christian families judged by other Christians for being poor, and treated like third class citizens. People excluded from the Christian family events because they cannot contribute much… I saw one family, the husband and father went down with a blown thyroid…three months in the hospital, huge weight loss and the normal post thyroid storm craziness…people visited him and told him to stay at home, and get his strength back before returning to work…but when he asked “Are you willing to help support my family while I do that?” they ran like rabbits….He saw no help at all from Christians…Nothing at all…Yet he had helped anybody he saw that needed it up till his health broke.

So, what do you say? Are you willing to support or help support another family? Couple? Individual? When they have a need? Personally, I’m willing…I have done so and will again…but truthfully, I expect nothing from other Christians…Nothing but disappointment.

This is something from what I have seen…Its not based on anything I need

Sadly, this is all too common. Silly human pride. Jesus tells us that if and when you do help another in need, brethren or otherwise, let not your left hand know what your right hand does, but God will know. Let your charity, your agape', be seen by God alone and your reward will not be among those who shout-out loud looking for recognition for their good deeds. Let your reward be in heaven.

 

[Downunder]

The righteous attends to the cause of the poor; the wicked does not discern knowledge. - Proverbs 29:7

All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. - Proverbs 21:26

He who lends to Yahweh is he who is kind to the poor, and his benefits he will repay to him. Proverbs 19:17

He who gives to the poor, there is no lacking, but he who turns his eyes, there are many curses. - Proverbs 28:27

The sleep of the labourer is pleasant, whether he eats little or much, but the wealth of the rich man does not allow him to rest. - Ecclesiastes 5:12

Better is little with righteousness than great income with no justice. - Proverbs 16:8

He who mocks the poor insults him who made him; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 17:5

The wealth of the rich is his strong city, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination. - Proverbs 18:11

The poor may speak entreaties, but the rich will answer roughly. - Proverbs 18:23

Wealth adds many friends, but the poor will be left by his friends. - Proverbs 19:4

All the brothers of the poor, if they hate him, how much more will his friends keep away from him. He pursues them with words, and they are gone. - Proverbs 19:7

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives to the poor from his own bread. - Proverbs 22:9

 

[Downunder]

Matthew 5:40 And to him that would go to law with thee, and take thy coat, leave thy cloak also.
5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee for one mile, go with him two.
5:42 To him that asks thee give, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.

Luke 6:30 Give to every one that asks thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask not again.
6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do to them likewise.
6:32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even the sinners love those that love them.

 

[PearlB]

Luke 10:30-35
In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

 

[Downunder]

Mark 4:18 And others are they sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,
4:19 and the cares of the age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Luke 8:14 And what fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and while going on are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no perfect fruit.

 

[Waggles]

Leviticus 19:9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.
19:11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
19:12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
19:13 “You shall not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.
19:14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
19:15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.
19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD.
19:17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbour, lest you incur sin because of him.
19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.

 

[Downunder]

Job 29:11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw, and witnessed for me.
29:12 For I delivered the poor who cried for help and the orphan who had no helper to him.
29:13 The blessing of the perishing came on me; and I made the widow's heart to sing.
29:14 I put on righteousness and it clothed me; my judgment was like a robe and a diadem.
29:15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
29:16 I was father to the poor, and the cause which I did not know, I searched out.

 

[Andyindauk]

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:31‭-‬46 NIV


And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:23‭-‬24 NIV

 

[JerryfromMass]

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:31‭-‬46 NIV


And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:23‭-‬24 NIV

Yes, the command is to love. But love does not require approval. In fact, love demands that we tell the truth regardless of how one's feelings might be bruised. Otherwise, love is something other than the agape' Christ commands, and truth is replaced with something less, which is not truth at all.

 

[Sue D.]

Sharing the truth in Love rather than hitting a person over the head with it. 1 Corinthians 13 and 14.

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Yes, the command is to love. But love does not require approval. In fact, love demands that we tell the truth regardless of how one's feelings might be bruised. Otherwise, love is something other than the agape' Christ commands, and truth is replaced with something less, which is not truth at all.

Truth without love is simply a weapon.

 

[JerryfromMass]

Truth without love is simply a weapon.

Amen. To borrow from John Adams, truth, like facts, is a "stubborn thing; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Truth is also unyielding and can hurt deeply those that have turn their backs to it.

 

[Downunder]

Proverbs 14:20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbour, but the rich has many friends.
14:21 He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, Oh how happy is he!

 

[Admon Mikha'el]

Proverbs 14:20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbour, but the rich has many friends.
14:21 He who despises his neighbour sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, Oh how happy is he!

Good one!

 

[Downunder]

Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

(WEB) That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

 

[Downunder]

Proverbs 21:13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

(LITV) Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he himself shall also call, and shall not be answered.