Christian Almsgiving that helps

In the modern world, poor people don't need money, they need more work. Addicts don't need to be supported, they need to recover sobriety. If we're really interested in helping someone, we must seek to satisfy their needs, not their wants.

Is this to say we shouldn't give? No way! Instead, we should use the time and care to give in a way that really helps. If a homeless person asks for money, offer to help them find a job. If an addict asks for housing, help them find a treatment center. Use your generosity to hire a gardener for the old lady down the street or to tip the waitress 50%. Buy lemonade at every stand and pay a dollar a glass. Buy stuff from every kid that comes to the door. Giving alms can be fun...like casting bread on the water to feed ducks. When we give wisely, we avoid feeding someone's destructive lifestyle and, instead, reinforce the right values.

For example, as head of almsgiving at a local church, I discovered welfare recipients had begun networking our phone number because no one was even making sure they had a need. We were sending thousands of dollars every month to total strangers we had never met. I decided they would have to show up and do whatever work around our grounds that they could (sweeping, stacking chairs, etc.), or to help us help others in some way. Within a few months, we were getting no calls. One church member got out of control financially and asked for money. While giving her the money she needed, I reviewed her budget, recommended she get a full-time job and make some spending changes. Several months later, after doing what I suggested, she came back for over a thousand dollars to catch up with her bills. She used the "extra" money from her new job to buy a new luxury truck she didn't need. The payments and insurance put a strain on her budget. Again, while helping her get through the pinch. I recommended she sell the truck and use the equity to catch up on her bills and buy a used sedan for cash. She did what I suggested, never needed to beg the church for money again, lost weight, wore nice clothes and hated me for "making" her do it. Let me ask you, would I have helped her by just giving her the money she asked for? It took about 10 hours of my time to review her finances and actually help her.

Instead just throwing money at people or performing a religious ritual of almsgiving, we can use the blessing God has given us to bless others. It takes time and a real heart for people to find out what they need and help them. When we take the time to share the love of God through actually meeting the needs of people, they will see our good deeds and praise our Father in Heaven.