I have had a type of dialogue with someone this week who believes that in a case where he is a steward, does not follow a scriptural procedure and causes a loss, that he can impose on others to make up for his losses as a steward. What makes this so problematic is that the ones he wants to make up the loss would be the very ones who had warned him that he might not be a good steward and was risking a loss.
I have always had the view that I can refuse aid to you if I had told you where to get it or showed you that you had it, you ignored me, and the time ran out to use the aid. If I give you a shovel and tell you that you can dig all the potatoes you like from my field do I have to give you money for potatoes if that is your choice? If I say no can you impose on my children to give it to you?
Every corner and exit ramp seems to have someone with a sign "Will Work for Food," "Travelling need gas" or whatever. One of my daughters offered to fill a man's tank if he would bring his vehicle to the pump. He left the scene rapidly. He must have had a full tank. God had provided already. Would my daughter have been a bad steward if she had given him the money that he requested?
I have heard from folks in groups such as the Salvation Army that money should not be given to these "will works" as there are plenty of available resources to provide them. The money will often if not always go to support a substance abuse habit.
I have always thought that an expressed need should not be questioned. I have been stuck many times on this principle. I made the mistake of making a cell phone call to my wife while standing on the street in Seattle. A street person asked me for money for food. She wanted to buy a sandwich at the Subway across the street that was advertised on the window at $5. I gave her $5. She moved on up the street asking others for money. Then she got on a bus. Stupid me. I should have said I'll cross the street and buy it for you.
As the Body of Christ how do we do as Jesus would have us to do? Does God cover the same need more than once? Do I have a duty to give money in all cases or can I provide the items requested? If the steward causes a loss do I have a duty to make up for his loss?
Any thoughts? I'll have to meditate more on this.
David Sneed
I have always had the view that I can refuse aid to you if I had told you where to get it or showed you that you had it, you ignored me, and the time ran out to use the aid. If I give you a shovel and tell you that you can dig all the potatoes you like from my field do I have to give you money for potatoes if that is your choice? If I say no can you impose on my children to give it to you?
Every corner and exit ramp seems to have someone with a sign "Will Work for Food," "Travelling need gas" or whatever. One of my daughters offered to fill a man's tank if he would bring his vehicle to the pump. He left the scene rapidly. He must have had a full tank. God had provided already. Would my daughter have been a bad steward if she had given him the money that he requested?
I have heard from folks in groups such as the Salvation Army that money should not be given to these "will works" as there are plenty of available resources to provide them. The money will often if not always go to support a substance abuse habit.
I have always thought that an expressed need should not be questioned. I have been stuck many times on this principle. I made the mistake of making a cell phone call to my wife while standing on the street in Seattle. A street person asked me for money for food. She wanted to buy a sandwich at the Subway across the street that was advertised on the window at $5. I gave her $5. She moved on up the street asking others for money. Then she got on a bus. Stupid me. I should have said I'll cross the street and buy it for you.
As the Body of Christ how do we do as Jesus would have us to do? Does God cover the same need more than once? Do I have a duty to give money in all cases or can I provide the items requested? If the steward causes a loss do I have a duty to make up for his loss?
Any thoughts? I'll have to meditate more on this.
David Sneed
I think that if in your heart you have decided that you will, in fact, help someone out without bias or assumption with what they will most likely do with the tangible item or money then you should do it. God rewards based on your heart and maybe that person really does need the help but no one gives them a chance because of the 90% of others that are abusing the generosity of others. Jesus also said not to throw your pearls before swine and use obvious discretion. I think if someone says "I need a sandwich across the street" then you should meet the need which was the sandwich.
ReplyDelete"Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7 (a man was being judged as holy and yet he really wasn't. I think this principle can apply to our judgement of the will works)
We gave a vehicle to people we thought "needed" it and it has been a headache ever since then because they were not satisfied with our gift and wanted something better. We could have given them money to buy their own vehicle but it wouldn't have been as nice as what we bought them. They presented a "need" and God answered it through us...were we wrong? Maybe. But, we will never regret knowing we tried our best and gave the best we could at the time.