Charity God's Way.

Every few days, during the summer months, at our local Walmart, there is a man standing on the corner holding up a sign saying he will work for food. Car after car stops and gives him donations. Right behind him is a sign offering $7.00 an hour for inexperienced people and more if you have experience at Burger King. Across the street is a similar sign at Taco Bell. Walmart has now hiring signs out, as does every business within sight.

$7.00 would be more than food, and having in some of those businesses and heard them asking people if they want a job, I am pretty sure the guys sign is a lie. A friend of mine offered $10.00 and a meal if the guy would just sit in his fleamarket stand for 30 minutes while he went to get something to eat and the guy refused. When the offer was raised to $20, the guy still refused. Obviously, he expected to make more staying where he was. He is defrauding every person who stops to help him.

I am a firm believer that God tells us to help the poor. As a Christian, it is our obligation. Nevertheless, I am to follow God,s instruction in how I give. Paul instructed tha church in Thessalonica, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread," (II Thessalonians 3:10-12).

To give such a person money merely rewards him for his sin and encourages him to continue. I have a responsibility not to encourage him to cheat and lie. I am going against God in giving to him. Charitable organisations such as rescue missions and homeless shelters can be very valuable, or they can encourage wickedness, and it only takes very small changes in how they run to make the difference.

God established a welfare program in Israel. It did not encourage laziness, but it did enable destitute people to have food and drink. We ought to use a similar model in our charitable efforts. Leviticus 19:9-10describes it, "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God."

The food was available, but the recipients had to go and gather it for themselves. if they were not willing to do that much, they deserved to starve. To be seen gleaning another man's field might be embarassing, but a genuinely hungry person would not allow that to stop him. On the other hand, if he had nothing because of mis management or laziness, the embarassment might cause him to change his ways.

What would happen if our charitable organizations worked in a similar manner?