Should we help someone who does not deserve it?
This is my personal experience. I know a person who used to take lift in my bike always when he sees me. He is healthy enough to walk and his office is just opposite to the bus stop. Yet, he always wants to be in ease and calls me whenever I go past him in my motorcycle. Quite often, I feel uncomfortable while taking him in my motorcycle, because of the seating space. I was OK when he called me for the first time and second, but started feeling annoyed when he started making it regular. Sometimes, I wish I would deny him for a lift. Proverbs 3:27 says "....to whom it is due" contrary to my case. I feel he is taking advantage of me.
Proverbs 3:27
ESV - 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
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Asked August 08 2014
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Arun Kumar
Supporter
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Laura Nelson
Supporter
I suppose if it's safe, and you were comfortable doing this you could guilt yourself into doing this indefinitely based on Bible verses. I love the verse about doing good when it's within my power. You also might pray and consider what this person really needs. Does he know the Lord like you? Does he need friendship and human contact? God may be using you to reach this person for Him because of this compassion you have shown the man. My attitude at being inconvenienced is often where my lack of Christ-likeness shows. I probably would have made an excuse by now. Again, pray, make sure it's safe for both of you and have some fun exploring what God reveals to you!
Johnnatta Giles
Supporter
You are not obligated to do things just because you are a Christian. I will share a story with you maybe it will give you some insight. I gave rides to a family back and forth to church, no problem at all. No problem, that is until the mother began to tell me what to do in our arrangements. I am the one giving the rides so they would have to be flexible with my schedule. She started being very rude when I told her I had to cancel for such and such reasons as if I was obligated to make sure they had a ride each Sunday. So I started thinking, "Am I being used, or does this person really need my help? Is it worth the frustration or is it just my flesh?" No it was not and I told her I would be no longer giving her rides. We still talk, we are still friends. I have no problem helping people. But I will not be a crutch for someone at all! If I see that they are completely capable of taking care of themselves and use me so they don't have to try, I step back and tell them I'm not doing it anymore. Don't ever enable people, it's not good for them. It's okay to help, but don't allow someone to use you. It teaches them that it's okay to do that. So tell him, "No, I'm sorry. I am not comfortable doing that anymore." God honors us when we are honest with others. He may be just fine with your decision!
Perry Duff
Supporter
Its NEVER good to help people with a sense of entitlement. That means they do not study the word of God, nor do they truly believe in him. They believe in what they can get out of others, by using, and abusing them. I will never forget a church that I used to go to in NYC, and the members of that church used to try and get money out of me all the time. And their excuse? "Do it for God," is what they would say. Or try to use what Jesus said to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21 as an excuse to get money out of people. Or what is said in Ecclesiastes 9:19 to justify getting money. Or Matthew 5:42 to try and convince you that you are supposed to give up all your money: Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." Ecclesiasties 9:19 19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. Matthew 5:42 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. But Matthew 6 Chapter clearly tells you to be careful with your righteousness before men, especially when giving to the needy. The temptation is great to be acknowledged by men for our deeds. THIS robs God of his glory! Matthew 6 1-4: 1 "Beware of r practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may u be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you". Remember, TEST the spirits as mentioned in 1 John 4: and Matthew 6:24 1. "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit a that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and f the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Matthew 6:24 24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money Don't be fooled by sinners. Remember, God himself is not deceived. Galatians 6:7,8 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for a whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For b the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
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