Comments on: Why You Should Never Give to the Poor

By: Iyundhu

Iyundhu — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:29:15 +0000

Before you teach people how to live you need to let them teach you what they really need. I am afraid your comment sounds a little condescending to the poor. What will you teach them? How much do you know about their lives that they do not know already? It is more a partnership than a teacher-pupil relationship.

By: Iyundhu

Iyundhu — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:22:57 +0000

This is fascinating. Here is my two cents.

I have a question: did the humanitarian organisation consult with the villagers about their need for water and sanitary revampment? Or was the decision entirely foreign to them? It might sound unreasonable but, if the poor person is not involved, two things happen: first he thinks how nice the one who does things for him is. But secondly the poor person sinks deeper in self-pity. If other people have to help him, then what good is he? If, on the other hand, the poor person is involved in decision making about his own situation, it is more likely they will protect the investment the first time around. Western wealthy nations need to learn this: do not do for people what they can do for themselves. Suggest it. Ask them if they want it. Encourage them. But NEVER decide for them, particularly without their consent. That is taking over their place – which is neo-colonialism. However good your intentions are, displacing people without consent is disrespectful of them.

The answer therefore is not to refrain from giving to the poor. The answer is to involve them. If they want it they will keep it. If they receive it for your sake they will take care of it in your presence – just to please you, but will let it rot in your absence. It is a call to respect the poor.

By: lopezt5

lopezt5 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:03:12 +0000

I completely disagree with your story. Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Jesus did not qualify this man’s giving to the poor in any way. God made provision for the poor when he instructed farmers, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.”
I think that is good enough for me. Jesus also said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Everything else is just a rationalization and a hard heart to show no mercy to others. You can always find a reason why someone is not ‘ready’ to receive your great beneficence. Who can honestly say they are ready to recieve anything from God or always use what God has given them properly. How about our lives? Has no one squandered their time or possessions? Everyone at sometime or another has done just that, and yet, God does not keep his gifts from us, what makes us think we should do so???

By: momof5

momof5 — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:08:42 +0000

I think human nature has been wonderfully presented in all the comments. I have enjoyed reading some, others have saddened me. The article itself was thought-provoking, I have decided this based on what I have read:

a. I will continue to give to the poor, whether my gift is in vain or not. I am not responsible for their actions, but I am responsible for mine.

b. I will give of my time and energy into helping the poor, to make them see themselves as worthy of riches as I think I am, to help them out of the place they are in, or to help comfort them where they are.

By: AlanRaj

AlanRaj — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:08:34 +0000

GIVE A MAN A FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY, TEACH A MAN HOW TO FISH AND HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOREVER.

By: michael b

michael b — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:40:57 +0000

basecally, there was a bad middle man.

find a good middle man if you guys realy care.
but never make the statement that you should not give to the poor.

all you need to do is find a charity which genuinly helps people in need/povety. i think christian aid is a reliable one.

GIVE TO THE POOR.
many of them cannot get out of it, even if they work 5 times harder than we do. we have the ticket to get many people out.

By: Nasdaq7

Nasdaq7 — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:09:31 +0000

The solution then it seems is to invest in the poor, but never to give or to help the poor. Anyone for that matter.

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:06:13 +0000

What about giving hungry people food? I can’t teach the people on the streets how to cook and buy their food if they don’t have money. But I can give them a meal because Jesus told us to give, not out of self-glorification. And I don’t think they would be stupid and not know how to handle free food. It’s pretty obvious – you put it in your mouth and chew…mmmm…nutrition!

By: butch palmer

butch palmer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:31:20 +0000

Charity begans at home.

By: butch palmer

butch palmer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:30:11 +0000

Welfare to single mothers who have one baby right after another to stay on welfare and section 8 housing is just like this story. They do not affriciate what they do not work for.