Truly Helping the Poor

 

“We don’t have to have deep pockets or be rich to help the needy, the poor and the hungry, we need to have a heart.” Kevin Dcruz 

Did you hear the recent generosity story of New York Knicks’ 7-foot center, Mitchell Robinson? Butch Stockton was Robinson’s high school basketball coach. Butch’s wife, Dawn, recently died at the age of 70 after a battle with metastatic cancer. The Stocktons had been married for 31 years.
  According to the news article this NBA star, Mitchell Robinson, visited Dawn every day when she was in the hospital. Then, after her death he invited his former coach to move in with him. Robinson told him, “Coach, no reason to stay down here in Louisiana. You come to New York with me and enjoy yourself and get your mind back straight because you know how much you loved your wife.” I love stories like that!
  Christmas is the season of giving. The Lord Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Yet who and where do we give? We want to give wisely. There’s a world of difference between helping and enabling.
  Personally, I struggle with what to do when a homeless person asks me for money. A good friend who knows a lot about helping the homeless shared that the best thing to give is a granola bar. If they’re an addict, it’s not easily swapped for drugs. A granola bar is nutritious and easily stored.
  Then, because we have some locals who are virtually homeless and spend lots of time in the elements (most have mental health issues), I keep gift cards for fast food restaurants in my car to give away so that they can go someplace warm and get something to eat. Caring for the poor isn’t easy yet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let me suggest some considerations.
  Begin with who you know, often that’s in the church, and move out from there. The Bible teaches that caring first starts with those suffering in our own families. If you have a relative who is a single parent or someone elderly with limited means or disabled, that’s a place to start. It doesn’t have to be money. For a single parent, babysitting or watching a child so they can shop or get a break can be huge. It might be simple house or car repairs. When you’re financially tight, you let things go. You can’t afford the repairs, but little repairs, if ignored, can turn into big ones.
  One of my greatest joys at Christmas was when Jane learned of a need and then gave money in my name to meet that need instead of buying me a Christmas gift. I’ll be honest, I can be as materialistic as anyone else yet there’s nothing that I really need. Giving always does a lot for my heart!
  Love and giving starts within our local church families. The early church, motivated by their love of Christ and the grace that God had shown them, lived an open-handed lifestyle, sharing with each other (Acts 2:44-45).
  Give to organizations that you know will use your gifts to help the poor, not for overhead.  Locally, I appreciate Love, Inc. and they’re part of our church’s budget. The Salvation Army seeks to directly touch the lives of the impoverished. There are others like reputable inner city rescue missions that are making a difference.
  So, do a little research before you give to a charity organization. The top executives at some charities earn over $1 million a year. Avoid giving to organizations where a major portion of their budget goes to administration or marketing, yet funds trickle down to those with real needs.
  Support government programs that help the disenfranchised. Speaking up for those who often have no one speaking for them can make a big difference. Many government programs have a good intention yet are not fully thought out and ultimately hurt the ones that they’re supposed to help.
  For example, 2024 marks the 60^th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson's launch of the War on Poverty. Since then, the taxpayers have spent $23 trillion on Johnson’s war. Adjusted for inflation, that's some three times the cost of all our wars since the American Revolution.
  Visit an urban area and it’s very apparent, we’re losing the “war.” Poverty is a very complex issue with complicated answers that require wisdom and courage on the part of elected officials. Sadly, most of them seem to be more concerned about being re-elected than doing what is best or right.
  Let me point out a popular cause that illustrates this. Most people have not thought through the long-term implications, particularly for the poor, of the eradication of fossil fuel vehicles. At the 2022 World Economic Forum leaders flew in on over 300 private jets. The carbon dioxide emissions from those flights were equal to 350,000 gasoline-powered cars on the road for the same weeklong period. Elites with jets and limousines shamelessly propose laws for others that have a limited effect on their own lifestyle.
  It’s growing more difficult for someone with limited means to own a home. With electric vehicles costing over $100k, it will soon be impossible for them to own a car, but a car is a source of freedom. The next time you drive past a group waiting for a bus on a cold day imagine living without one. A car gives you the freedom to live or work anywhere. If we care for the poor, we must question and evaluate kneejerk proposals where the long-term impact of those ideas make the lives of the poor more difficult.
  Look for simple, practical ways to make a difference.  Consider the options around you. Perhaps it’s volunteering at an after-school program, a soup kitchen or clothing pantry. Since Covid, many children are struggling with basic reading and math skills. They need assistance to catch up. Most schools have programs where a retiree or someone with some free time can volunteer a minimal amount yet make a big difference. There are more needs around you than you might realize. Ask God to give you eyes to see and a heart with compassion to serve!
  Remember, spiritual problems require spiritual solutions. Poverty is fundamentally a spiritual issue, so we’re wise to work with groups that recognize this truth. Look for organizations committed to proclaiming the gospel, even as they minister to the many needs of the economically challenged. Assisting the poor yet failing to minister to their spiritual needs helps them only for this brief life. We must never forget that Jesus died to save us from sin and provide the only way to heaven for all eternity!

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.