Feeding the hungry and clothe the naked

[hornetguy]

This is a complex issue -
we are often motivated by compassion to reach out and assist those in need; the down and out, etc.
but in the end how much of an impact do we make?

Strictly speaking the NT teaches us that charity and financial assistance and helping the poor is WITHIN the church, and
NOT to the outside world of unbelievers.
Those outside of the Christian faith and the church are to be envious of the love and care and compassion that
Christians extend to each other in the body of Christ.

I believe that the poor need to have the gospel of salvation preached to them and for their lifestyle problems that
often underlie their poverty of body and soul to be removed - for them to be set free.
Then one can with the help of others get their act together (so to speak) and improve their quality of life through
prayer for God's assistance and through Godly counsel and charitable support.

Jesus never set up a soup kitchen for the poor - he preached the gospel and gave the oppressed the opportunity
to be set free from their burdens and addictions and infirmities.
New lives, new people, hopefully in a supportive caring body of fellow believers.

Sorry.... got to disagree with some of what you said.... Jesus told us the parable of the good Samaritan... this was basically an "infidel" to the Jews, who ministered to a Jew that needed help. They weren't even in the same sociological group, much less in the same "church"....

Jesus didn't really set up a soup kitchen, but he fed 5000 people who were hungry...

I think Jesus expects us to help ANYONE that we are capable of helping.... in fact, that is the one BEST way to witness to a non-believer.... FEED them. Show them the love of Jesus for ALL people. They will see Jesus through you....

 

[Waggles]

1 Peter 2:12

(ASV) having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
(BBE) Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.
(CEV) Always let others see you behaving properly, even though they may still accuse you of doing wrong. Then on the day of judgment, they will honor God by telling the good things they saw you do.
(ERV) People who don't believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory to God on the day he comes.
(GNB) Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognize your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of his coming.
(GW) Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
(ISV) Continue to live such upright lives among the gentiles that, when they slander you as practicers of evil, they may see your good actions and glorify God when he visits them.
(KJV) Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

 

[Carebear8]

I think it is only human of us in this day and age to question or judge the actions of those asking for handouts or finding themselves in those situations. Especially with drug epidemics in so many areas.

However, I always feel as a Christian that I should treat others how I would want to be treated, and I would not want to be ignored if I were in need. I think a great solution to this is keeping "blessing bags" in your car. Instead of just giving money they are big baggies filled with travel size toiletries, granola bars or other snacks, a couple dollars, brochures about local shelters etc. That way anytime you encounter someone appearing in need you can give out something that may help them and feel okay that you're not just giving them money to feed a drug problem or something.
Blessings to you.

 

[Waggles]

I think Jesus expects us to help ANYONE that we are capable of helping.... in fact, that is the one BEST way to witness to a non-believer.... FEED them. Show them the love of Jesus for ALL people. They will see Jesus through you....

But that is the problem ... far too many people give out small tokens of caring
most never talk about Jesus and the power of the gospel to transform a person's life for the better
unless one opens their mouth to preach Jesus those in need will never see Jesus because far too many other
people who do not have Jesus are also into good works.

We are to be fishers of men not distributors of fish, feeding people in need for a day.
People need to live on the bread from heaven and on every word of God.

A burger without Jesus does not save a soul.

 

[Jackson123]

Dear brothers and sister,

I feel the need to bring up this subject again. Let me share something with you:

- Yesterday, I was taking a walk in my city. The weather was fine (not too hot not too cold) and at this time tourists are many and the streets were really crowed with people. As I was walking by one particular street, I noticed that there was a volume on the sidewalk. As I was approaching it, I realized it was a man lying on the ground with an empty soda glass in his hand. It was a beggar that seemed to be sleeping. The first thing that struck me was that no one seemed to care about him. People literally walked close to him and simply ignored the man.

I then decided to go talk to him. As he woke up I asked him if he was ok, gave him some money and asked if he was hungry. His answer was: "Yes, I am." After that I went to a shopping I bought food to him.

Now, this issue continues to puzzle me: I see dozens of beggars every day, many people comes to me asking for money, etc. Jesus says for us to feed the hunger but I keep thinking: "Is this person starving because he´s poor or because he simply doesn´t want to work?". Problem is that most of the times it´s very difficult to assess what kind of situation the person is in.

Bottom line:
- Should we act based on this kind of judgment (try to figure out if it´s someone who really needs or not) or feed and clothe all the beggars we find?


God bless you all!

Matthew 24:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

We call for love. Our duty is to love. But to love need wisdom.

To love mean to help other live better. Some time give money not make other live better. What is the best give to help other better live?

It is Jesus. Let say we help other with money and job. If he doesn't know Jesus, he will end up with hell for ever. He may become millioner for the last 50 years after we help him, but he will life at hell for millions years. Is that help? Is that love?

But yes give temporary help is one of a strategy to convince other that we love them, as a way to convince them that they need more than money or food. Money and food help temporary about 50 or hundred year in our temporary live on earth.

Because we love we tell them the greatest need in their live. It is salvation.You need money temporarilly, you need salvation forever.

Seem to me we need to focus on helping the poor on their salvation more than money or job.

Because iniquities shall abound the love of many shall wax cold.

Jesus know if you give shelter to homeless he will steal your tool and sale it for drug.
It make your love wax cold, you no longer interesting to love them anymore. But love is our duty. What now? Shlould stop love? Or continue to love in different way

Let continue to love but focus in their salvation.

 

[p_rehbein]

One more thought... I've come across a few people who are "Christians" who feel that God has told them to live by faith rather than work to support themselves. I have no problem with that, but the direction they receive from the Lord does not obligate me to "feel led" to support them.

I would have a problem with such as these. Simply because the Apostle Paul surely lived by faith, yet he labored to support himself during his Ministry. Yes, he also accepted assistance from a couple of Congregations that he founded, but he still labored.

Those that Jesus sent out, may not have taken wealth or possessions with them, but nowhere in Scripture (that I have read) says they refused to work to support themselves. Take assistance from others? Yes, as Jesus said......but I don't read where Jesus told them NOT to labor to support themselves.

It just seems to me that this approach is dangerously close to tempting/testing God. Scripture is pretty clear about us laboring if we desire to eat is it not?

 

[p_rehbein]

Jesus never set up a soup kitchen for the poor - he preached the gospel and gave the oppressed the opportunity
to be set free from their burdens and addictions and infirmities.
New lives, new people, hopefully in a supportive caring body of fellow believers.

Maybe, or, maybe not........on two occasions He fed the 5,000 and then the 4,000. Jesus taught us to feed His children....IMO....both spiritually and physically......

 

[p_rehbein]

IMO

While it is important to feed the hungry spiritually (homeless or not), it is also important to feed them physically as well.

If we witness to them, telling them about Jesus and all He offers them, and then walk away leaving them starving on the street, what good have we done? If we feed them physically until they are sated and no longer suffering the pangs of hunger but do not feed them spiritually, what good have we done?

The service is in the giving, that is true, as is the blessing. Jesus experienced this as well as shown in Scripture where He healed a bunch of guys and they all left rejoicing, BUT ONLY ONE returned to give Him praise. He also taught about the sower of the seeds, and that kinda fits here as well. Our good works/charity towards others are "seeds sown," and only time will tell if they proved to fall on fertile ground.

A lot of good points here, and everyone seems to be speaking from experience......I guess it simply comes down to us doing as we believe the Spirit is leading us to do.

 

[Waggles]

When Jesus fed the 5,000 men plus their wives and children, and again he did so for another 4,000 plus
this was not to establish a soup kitchen ministry:
but rather to demonstrate his power and authority as one sent from God to Israel.

Within the body of Christ, your church, your fellowship, your congregation and so on, we are commanded to love
one another and to be zealous of good works; to visit the orphans and widows and to help, to visit those in hospitals and in
prisons, to feed those who lack bread, to share and to care.

But as for those in the world, unbelievers and those who are not part of a Christian church our obligation to them
is to preach Christ Jesus and hopefully get them to repent and to be baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit.
Then their lives can change for the better through the power of God unto righteous living.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:

 

[p_rehbein]

Maybe not......or maybe........One thing for sure......His examples of feeding the flock both spiritually and physically set an example for us today. Ministries that provide sustenance for the body as well as the soul are to be commended. Jesus wasn't trying to establish a "soup kitchen ministry" when He fed the Disciples on the beach after His resurrection either. But it is hard to discount how many times He assured that people had BOTH food for the body AND the soul.

 

[Waggles]

But it is hard to discount how many times He assured that people had BOTH food for the body AND the soul.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
Those outside of the Christian faith must rely upon their own families and their own sources of support.

 

[Embankment]

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i]and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.