Comments on: Judging who is poor enough for our charity. http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/ Musings by Jon Acuff Thu, 24 May 2012 20:12:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nancy http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-1/#comment-64431 Nancy Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:17:36 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-64431 My thoughts on giving money to the "homeless guy holding a sign at an intersection" is to show him love by giving him a dollar. We spend a dollar many times on ourselves whether it's on a soda or a candy bar or whatever. Give the guy a smile too. Many people deliberately avoid eye contact so they don't have to deal with him. Validate that he is a human being by making eye contact. You are only at the intersection for a minute or less so he's not too threatening to your safety. To those who say "well he's probably only going to waste that dollar on beer" I say....so what!!! Maybe his life is so miserable that he needs a beer. I wouldn't like anyone who gave me money as a gift to dictate how I was to spend it. If the guy is a total scam and you've been took it doesn't matter. What matters is that we have shown love and that is the greatest gift of all. My thoughts on giving money to the "homeless guy holding a sign at an intersection" is to show him love by giving him a dollar. We spend a dollar many times on ourselves whether it's on a soda or a candy bar or whatever. Give the guy a smile too. Many people deliberately avoid eye contact so they don't have to deal with him. Validate that he is a human being by making eye contact. You are only at the intersection for a minute or less so he's not too threatening to your safety. To those who say "well he's probably only going to waste that dollar on beer" I say….so what!!! Maybe his life is so miserable that he needs a beer. I wouldn't like anyone who gave me money as a gift to dictate how I was to spend it. If the guy is a total scam and you've been took it doesn't matter. What matters is that we have shown love and that is the greatest gift of all.

]]> By: Michael James Stone http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-3/#comment-62249 Michael James Stone Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:10:39 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-62249 A millionaire is need is as needful as a beggar in need. To each the need is there. The effect of considering who needs and who doesn't puts a person in a bad position, that is playing God. Jesus did in fact meet needs, no matter who. Michael A millionaire is need is as needful as a beggar in need.
To each the need is there.
The effect of considering who needs and who doesn't puts a person in a bad position,
that is playing God.

Jesus did in fact meet needs, no matter who.
Michael

]]> By: Bob http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-3/#comment-61578 Bob Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:17:53 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61578 I would urge you to consider 1Timothy Chapter 5. In this Chapter, Paul defines the criterion by which widows could be put on the list for support from the Church. In other words, church leadership was responsible for STEWARDSHIP, which involved JUDGEMENT regarding a needy individual's situation. Don't beat yourself up for doing intuitively what God has told us to do extrinsically. Thanks. I would urge you to consider 1Timothy Chapter 5. In this Chapter, Paul defines the criterion by which widows could be put on the list for support from the Church. In other words, church leadership was responsible for STEWARDSHIP, which involved JUDGEMENT regarding a needy individual's situation. Don't beat yourself up for doing intuitively what God has told us to do extrinsically.
Thanks.

]]> By: Selah http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-1/#comment-61399 Selah Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:12:11 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61399 Mary Q., I'm so sorry that you have the unemployment bug, too. Ugh. Have you reached the point yet where you wished those $25 gift cards to certain stores would somehow translate into cash that you could use to pay the utility bill!? To Mr. Utility Man: "What? You mean you won't take $25 from JCPenney? It's as good as cash!" Sigh. Praying for you - that doors open and you would know exactly what to do and where to go! Mary Q.,
I'm so sorry that you have the unemployment bug, too. Ugh. Have you reached the point yet where you wished those $25 gift cards to certain stores would somehow translate into cash that you could use to pay the utility bill!? To Mr. Utility Man: "What? You mean you won't take $25 from JCPenney? It's as good as cash!" Sigh. Praying for you – that doors open and you would know exactly what to do and where to go!

]]> By: Mary Q. http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-1/#comment-61390 Mary Q. Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:43:29 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61390 I've been thinking about something similar lately as a newly unemployed person. I have a decent car, decent clothes, a fairly new computer--none of it particularly fancy. I'm not (yet) walking around in dirty jeans with holes and an oversized flannel shirt just just because I'm unemployed. Today, I went to a music/movies/electronics store and bought a couple of DVDs...because I had a gift certificate to the store for $25, but I was afraid I would be spotted by someone who knows me and my situation, and who would think, "Why is she in *here* shopping when she's running out of money?" I've been thinking about something similar lately as a newly unemployed person. I have a decent car, decent clothes, a fairly new computer–none of it particularly fancy. I'm not (yet) walking around in dirty jeans with holes and an oversized flannel shirt just just because I'm unemployed.

Today, I went to a music/movies/electronics store and bought a couple of DVDs…because I had a gift certificate to the store for $25, but I was afraid I would be spotted by someone who knows me and my situation, and who would think, "Why is she in *here* shopping when she's running out of money?"

]]> By: Luvs2Dance http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-3/#comment-61361 Luvs2Dance Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:42:24 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61361 Convicting and thought-provoking post. I agree with those who said it's our duty to be obedient to God by giving to others (be it time, money, food, etc), and that what the receiver does with our gift is between him/her and God. If we're giving to someone we barely know, or even someone we do know, we're not always privy to the reasons behind their need for help. Making snap judgments would help no one in that case so we can only give in love and let God take care of the rest. However, in the case of organizations, I think it is our duty to make sure that they are reputable, and not just a front for a money laundering scheme (not that I know of any, it's the first example that popped into my head) :-) Convicting and thought-provoking post. I agree with those who said it's our duty to be obedient to God by giving to others (be it time, money, food, etc), and that what the receiver does with our gift is between him/her and God. If we're giving to someone we barely know, or even someone we do know, we're not always privy to the reasons behind their need for help. Making snap judgments would help no one in that case so we can only give in love and let God take care of the rest.

However, in the case of organizations, I think it is our duty to make sure that they are reputable, and not just a front for a money laundering scheme (not that I know of any, it's the first example that popped into my head) :-)

]]> By: Luvs2Dance http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-2/#comment-61355 Luvs2Dance Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:18:25 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61355 Luvs2Dance: "or a pocket watch hanging long around your neck...", big enough that you'd need to turn sideways to get through the doorway, a la Flavor Flav. tiffhadley: Who?? Luvs2Dance: What do you mean, "who??" But I digress... :-) Luvs2Dance: "or a pocket watch hanging long around your neck…", big enough that you'd need to turn sideways to get through the doorway, a la Flavor Flav.
tiffhadley: Who??
Luvs2Dance: What do you mean, "who??"

But I digress… :-)

]]> By: Annie http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-1/#comment-61227 Annie Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:45:06 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61227 I find it hard every Christmas. Our church gives out baskets of food to the poorer in our area, which is wonderful, and I support that. But I also know that the church's pastor and his family live on very, very little, and could probably use just such a basket themselves. I don't think they've ever bought a Christmas turkey and I know for a fact that they've hesitated about inviting people to the parsonage because they had no Christmas treats to offer. What they have is spent on providing Christmas for their children. Outreach and giving to the needy is so important, but sometimes we're blind to the poverty right before us because it's so carefully hidden. A pastor should never have to look longingly at his own church's grocery stock and feel guilty because he's actually considered for a brief moment "stealing" from the "poor." I find it hard every Christmas. Our church gives out baskets of food to the poorer in our area, which is wonderful, and I support that. But I also know that the church's pastor and his family live on very, very little, and could probably use just such a basket themselves. I don't think they've ever bought a Christmas turkey and I know for a fact that they've hesitated about inviting people to the parsonage because they had no Christmas treats to offer. What they have is spent on providing Christmas for their children. Outreach and giving to the needy is so important, but sometimes we're blind to the poverty right before us because it's so carefully hidden. A pastor should never have to look longingly at his own church's grocery stock and feel guilty because he's actually considered for a brief moment "stealing" from the "poor."

]]> By: Perspective « TLC4Women http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-3/#comment-61217 Perspective « TLC4Women Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:33:16 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61217 [...] So in my line of work these questions come up all the time. The judgments we are called to make or not make are sometimes very tough on these hearts of ours. Sometimes they speak more about us then they do about the people we serve. I’ll let you read what I am talking about for yourself on Stuff Christians Like. Click here. [...] [...] So in my line of work these questions come up all the time. The judgments we are called to make or not make are sometimes very tough on these hearts of ours. Sometimes they speak more about us then they do about the people we serve. I’ll let you read what I am talking about for yourself on Stuff Christians Like. Click here. [...]

]]> By: Kirsten http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2009/12/1642/comment-page-3/#comment-61192 Kirsten Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:19:25 +0000 http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/?p=1642#comment-61192 Thought you might find this interesting, on the same topic: <a href="http://www.boundlessline.org/2009/12/a-giving-conundrum.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boundlessline%2Fblog+%28Boundless+Line%29" target="_blank">http://www.boundlessline.org/2009/12/a-giving-con...</a> Thought you might find this interesting, on the same topic:

http://www.boundlessline.org/2009/12/a-giving-con…

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