“Helping the ‘POOR’ – 101”…Blog.
*** (Mark 14:7) For you have the Poor with you always; and ‘whenever’ you desire; you ‘may’ do them good. But you do not have Me [Jesus] always.
*** (Galatians 6:10) So then as we have time; let us work good toward all; especially toward those of the ‘household of faith’.
Is there ‘anywhere’ in the Bible… that we are commanded to feed the ‘starving’ in Africa..? Or any other country or land… in this world…? “Absolutely Not!” Some have a ‘hobby horse’ and get ‘Kudos’… for their stand for the Poor. They publically say… ‘We need to help the Poor’… and yet ‘do not’ themselves take care of the Poor… in their ‘own’: town or community. Why then do they… ‘Say & Preach’… taking care of the Poor in ‘another’ country…? The News Media and Hollywood… often have… ‘Causes & Agendas’… that make them seem almost… “Magnanimous”… when in reality… “Hollywood is Debauched & Wicked!” Spin doctors often take a news story… and blow it out of proportion… to keep you from other issues in the news! So too… I must say to those who are… ‘For the Poor’… Why are you ‘Speaking’… and “Not Doing”…?
*** (Matthew 6:1-2-3) Take heed that you do not do your merciful deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven.
(Matt 6:2) Therefore when you do your merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I [Jesus] say to you; They have their reward.
(Matt 6:3) But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does,
*** (Luke 6:26) Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you! For so their fathers ‘did to’ the false prophets.
*** (1Timothy 5:24-25) Some men's sins are open beforehand; going before to judgment. And some they also follow after.
(1Tim 5:25) Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and those who are otherwise cannot be hidden.
A Pastor friend of mine… has people coming to the Church all the time asking for handouts. He has become very wise in his dealings with the Poor. When he first started their outreach… ‘Ministry to the Poor’… he was besieged with requests for monies to pay… “Rent & Utility Bills & Even… Cable/Phone Bills!” When he started requesting that… people attend a class on handling finances… the word got around! Soon all the “Free Loaders”… got the word… and stopped visiting his Church! One wife even ‘confessed’ to the Pastors wife… “My husband makes the circuit each month… and gets help from several different Churches! They dragged their 3 children around with them… so each Church would feel sorry for them. The wife even said about her own husband… “He will ‘not’ hold down a job!”
*** (Proverbs 9:9-10) Give to a wise one, and he will be still wiser; teach a just one, and he will increase in learning.
(Pro 9:10) The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
*** (1Corinthains 14:40) Let all things be done decently; and in order.
*** (Proverbs 27:23) Know well the face of your flocks; set your heart on your herds.
*** (1Corinthians 14:38) But if any = is [willingly] ignorant; = let him = be [willingly] ignorant
*** (1Corinthains 14:32) The spirits of prophets [True or False] are subject to the prophets [True or False],
*** (Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
One more time…? Is there a command in the Bible… that we are to take all of the Poor…? Do you realize that… “Poverty & being Poor”… can be the Judgment of our Holy God; The God of the Bible…? Did you know that… in giving to some of the Poor… you are staying God’s hand of Judgment on them…? How many of you… are led by the Holy Spirit of God… “Romans 8:14”… in your giving…? Or do you just do it… to get ‘Kudos’ from others… when they see you in a ‘Helping the Poor’ ministry…? Perhaps IF we would examine our motivation… we might just realize; that we are doing our… ‘Good Deeds to the Poor’… to be seen by Others…?
*** (Luke 18:1) And He [Jesus] also spoke a parable to them to teach; it is always right to pray, and not to faint,
(Luke 18:2) saying, A certain judge was in a certain city; not fearing God; nor respecting man.
(Luke 18:3) And a widow was in that city. And she came to Him, saying; Avenge me of my adversary.
(Luke 18:4) And he would not do so for a time. But afterward he said within himself; Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
(Luke 18:5) yet because this widow troubles me; I will avenge her; that she not wear me down in the end.
(Luke 18:6) And the Lord [Jesus] said; Hear what the unjust judge says.
(Luke 18:7) And shall not God avenge His; Own elect who cry day and night to Him; though He has been long-suffering over them?
(Luke 18:8) I [Jesus] say to you; that He [God] will avenge them speedily. Yet when the Son of Man comes, shall He find [True Biblical] FAITH, on the earth?
Please; may I ask ‘You’… “Before you get involved helping “Others” – Do You ‘Pray’ about It”…? All ministries to Others… “Must be Biblically Sound”… in its practice. Occasionally, I have preached at open air ministries where a Church… fed the Poor. Some would stand across the street… as to not hear the Gospel message… and then come over to be fed. We started passing out tickets… so that one had to hear the message… before getting fed. Some of the Poor… did not like that; and ‘openly’ complained. We simply told them… we are not here to ‘just’ fill your hunger; but to try and help you in ‘all’ areas. If you ‘do not’ hear the message… you are ‘not’ privileged to eat… or to get some clothing from the “Clothing Ministry”… that was an adjunct to the food. What good is a ministry to the Poor… only taking care of their Physical needs… and “Not their Spiritual Ones”…?
*** (Hebrews 10:28-to-31) He who despised Moses' Law died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
(Heb 10:29) Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy of punishment, the one who has trampled the Son of God, and who has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
(Heb 10:30) For we know Him who has said, "Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord shall judge His people."
(Heb 10:31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
*** (1Peter 4:17-18-19) For the time has come for the judgment to begin from the house of God. And if it first begins from us, what will be the end of those disobeying the gospel of God?
(1Pe 4:18) And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
(1Pe 4:19) Therefore let those who suffer; according to the will of God; commit their souls in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.
· Do YOU Present an Unbalanced Gospel…?
Unbalanced – 101 Blog.
Another question… “If you allow the Poor to take advantage of You – are You really helping them”…? Do you realize it takes… ‘Discipline’… to get up and go to a job ‘each & every’ day…? Some of the Poor… ‘do not’ want that Discipline… nor are they willing to ‘submit’ to a “Higher Authority”… than themselves! They want to be their… ‘Own Boss’… and if it takes being Poor; than that is what they will do. Now… before you get too upset… this is the exception; rather than the norm! How do you tell… “Which is Which”… in a ministry to help the poor…? May I make a few practical suggestions…? Remember the Disciples of Christ… had a 3-year training program…! How can you… “Without Any Training”… or even a “Written Plan”… “Truly & Effetely”… help the Poor…?
· “He that would Help–Others… ‘Must’… Require ‘Something’… of Them”…!
· “Give a man a fish… feed him for a Day!”
· “Teach a man ‘To Fish’… feed him for a Lifetime!”
· “It is ‘not’ how much you Have… but ‘how’ you spend what you Have!”
· “Most people do not have a written budget… but live hand to mouth!”
· “People that ‘really’ want help… instead of a handout… will learn how to manage what they have!”
· “Unless you can identify what got you were you are at… you will not change… for your own good!”
· “With some Poor… that is their badge of honor… and they use it… ‘to extort’ from Others!”
Crown Financial Ministries
This Christian organization has training programs on how to train others… to manage what resources God has given them as Stewards of His Blessings & Grace & Mercy…!
ECFA [Evangelical Counsel for Financial Accountability]
ECFA is an accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to Seven Standards of Responsible StewardshipTM. Founded in 1979, ECFA provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. Members include Christian ministries, denominations, churches, educational institutions and other tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. Collectively, these organizations represent more than $18 billion in annual revenue.
Perhaps you cannot be… physically involved in helping the Poor. If you want “To Give”… to such an organization… don’t you want to know ‘IF’ they are… “Legitimate”…? Here are some other principles for Ministry… or for ‘You’ helping some ministry…! When a ministry fails… it is usually that someone is running it… “Who should ‘not’ be!” Also… ‘Secular Businesses’… have a “Business Plan”… why should not Ministries; to help the Poor… “Also have One”…? Aren’t Goals… part of that Dynamic…? How about Evaluations of Methodology…? And most of all… “Wisdom from God”…?
*** (James 1:5-6-7) Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him.
(Jas 1:6) But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
(Jas 1:7) Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
*** (Luke 14:28-29-30) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it;
(Luke 14:29) lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him,
(Luke 14:30) saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish.
*** (Jeremiah 12:5) If you have run with footmen, and they wore you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if you feel secure in the land of peace; then how will you do in the swelling of the Jordan?
*** (1Corinthians 9:27) No; I keep on beating my body and making it my slave so that; after I have preached to others; I myself will not somehow be disqualified.
*** (Isaiah 32:17) And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the service of righteousness shall be quietness and hope forever.
One Last Thing… this blog is “Not” meant to be the… ‘Inclusive & Final’… on this extensive subject of… ‘Ministry to the Poor’. It is only a beginning… that you may develop by… Prayer and the Leadings of God’s Holy Spirit…! He knows where He would have you to… “Do His Work”…!
*** (Ephesians 2:10) For we are His workmanship; created in Christ Jesus to good works; which God has before ordained; that we should walk in them.
Love; in Christ, Roger / Ezekiel 3:18-to-21.
Email: atruth459@yahoo.com
Ende…!
