Must Christians Give to Those Who Don’t Want to Help Themselves?

I recently received a text question, “I read a blog post concerning the question, ‘What does the Bible say about how we should give to help the person who will not help themselves? Am I enabling them to continue their lifestyle?'” This is surely one of many examples of “where the rubber meets the road” with our faith, isn’t it? Let’s consider several principles and some biblical teachings about how we should give.

Every day on my way home from work, several people – men and women – are standing at the end of the ramp of the interstate highway. They are holding signs, asking passers-by to be generous. They reveal they are down on their luck, often homeless. Many of them add an additional “religious appeal” to their plea, asking God to bless those who will give.

It impossible to drive past those asking for help without feeling an emotional and spiritual conflict. I am aware that I have been blessed. Through personal experience, I know what it means to be “down on luck” because of out-of-control circumstances. Yet, in my few moments in the driving in the car, I have passed business after business that advertises they are hiring. In addition, I have concerns about how the money would be spent if I made a donation.

biblical principles for give to help

Several issues applying the principles of faith to daily circumstances contain ideas that seem to be polar opposites. On the one hand, we are given principles encouraging us to love even our enemies, and to be generous when helping those in need. At the same time, we are told to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. Is it possible to honor both?

The principle of giving to the needy is older than Christianity itself. The Law required, “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and the resident alien. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 23:22 ESV).

Within a few decades of the church’s beginning, the apostle Paul launched a collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem. It appears to be a massive undertaking, though Paul only mentioned it in passing (1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1 – 9:15, Galatians 2:10, Romans 15:25-31).

Paul gives a pertinent piece of advice to the Thessalonian Christians. Thessaloniki, a major city in Greece, was no doubt involved in the collection, as were the Corinth and Philippi churches. To people being asked to give to help the needy believers they had never met, Paul writes,

⁷ For you yourselves know how you must imitate us: We were not irresponsible among you; ⁸ we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 HCSB).

Paul says that while they were doing mission and ministry work in Thessalonica, they worked at other jobs to raise money to support their needs. The apostle indicates they had the right to ask for support, but they chose not to do so. They did not want to be a burden to these new believers. But Paul continues his admonitions:

¹⁰ In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” ¹¹ For we hear that there are some among you who walk irresponsibly, not working at all, but interfering with the work of others. ¹² Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ that quietly working, they may eat their own food. ¹³ Brothers, do not grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 HCSB).

Verse thirteen offers an interesting conclusion to the argument of work that is missed in most English translations. To many, the phrase, “Do not grow weary in doing good,” implies to not grow weary in exercising generosity to the poor. But the “good” – or excellent thing – in the Greek language modifies the work they are doing. It is similar to the connection in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (compare also 2 Corinthians 13:7, Galatians 6:9, Romans 7:21). If the Thessalonians own a business, they should do their work there well. If they are craftsmen. they are to do that work well.

Paul seems to be making a connection between the choices we make and the outcome those choices bring. If I do not wish to work, or if I work in a way that is irresponsible, even to the point of interfering with the work of others, the outcome will affect the money and the food I bring home.

There is a difference between between being impoverished because of unforeseen circumstances or personal handicaps, and choosing to not work. Solomon warns in Proverbs,

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing (Proverbs 21:25-26 NIV).

When the motivation of the individual is corrupt, we so not have an obligation to provide assistance. In fact, doing so adds to their undisciplined lifestyle. Rather, we are to be disciplined as we provide guidance and help.

But motivations are not always easy to discern.

so who do we give to help?

Most of us simply cannot give to everyone who expresses a need for a gift or donation. Is there a criteria we are to use to decide who and how we help? It seems the Bible gives us some direction and guidelines.

give to help the least of these

Concluding His teaching about using the gifts and personality traits entrusted to us by the Father (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus describes a setting at the final judgment. A group of followers are commended for helping to clothe and feed and care for Jesus (Matthew 25:31-46). When questioned about such behavior, Jesus responds, “When you did it for the least of these, you did it for Me.”

One of our priorities in giving should certainly include “the least of these.” There are a variety of ways that we would define “least.” The word “least” certainly implies a comparison to others. How does a person become “least?” A person can be among the least as a matter of birth, of circumstances, or even of the consequences of sin. When we are being generous in our giving, we should consider the position in life of the recipient.

James talks about generosity and speaks a bit to the concept of “the least of these.” In his small epistle, he writes

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27 NIV).

James spells out orphans and widows as obvious choices for our gifts and generosity. He also characterizes them as the ones who are in distress. There are times when needs are greater than others.

give to help my neighbor

When asked about the greatest command, Jesus answered first to love God and then to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus then helped describe who our neighbor is by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The neighbor seems to indicate the person who is closest to us. God may provide neighbors whom we have never met before. Some speculate that the neighbor is to be a member of the family or members of God’s family (those who have faith), but the context doesn’t really provide such an interpretation.

The Bible does talk about early Christians having all things in common, and that no one had need because they shared with one another. Often our closest neighbor will be the one with whom we share worship and the fellowship of faith.

give to help the world

The Great Commission urges disciples to “go into the world and preach the gospel” (Matthew 28:16-20). Our generosity needs to include the ministry of evangelism. Preaching the gospel to other parts of the world is not a cheap undertaking. The cost of evangelism is more than just the transportation and provision for the messenger. Recipients of the gospel often have personal needs and circumstances to overcome before they are ready to accept a spiritual message.

safe-guard your giving

Sometimes it is difficult to discern between those in need and those who are simply unwilling to work. One way to safe-guard the process of your giving is to donate your money through your local church or through a Christian agency who you support and trust. Transparency in leadership, along with the wisdom from others, helps to assure you that the money will be spent with integrity.

If you are unsure, my personal opinion is to err on the side of generosity. It is impossible to know accurately the motives of individuals or businesses. If you are unsure, but still feel moved to make a donation, proceed with your generosity. Trust that God will use your gift regardless of the motives.

give and it will be given to you – good measure, pressed down, shaken together

We are called upon to be good stewards of what God has given us. But we are challenged to be generous with those gifts. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Jesus challenged the disciples to give. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). We have the chance to consider another important subject because You Asked For It.