Helping People...

[Marilyn777]

Where do you draw the line between helping people and showing them how to help themselves? How do you strike that balance?

Teaching people to help themselves is ultimatley more beneficial then giving people hand-outs. If you learn the skills to support yourself, and all that requires that is going to be a person that is self sufficient for a life-time barring unforseen circumstances that is. Everbody needs some help at some point in their life and that should be given without conditions. Unfortunately there are those that take and take and do nothing to help themselves and sometimes its hard to no the difference. We run into that all the time at our church we are right down town and we get alot of street people in. Some are genuinely in need and you want to help them all you can. But others go from church to church to see how much they can get. At some point you have to say enough is enough. They need to be shown the skills on how to get along in this world and sometimes that is all they need someone to give them some one on one instructions .

[Orr v'emet]

That is a good question and especially important in my profession (social work). I get alot of homeless folks, those who can't afford this or that. Frankly, just alot of needy folks out there. I let the Holy Spirit tell me. I try most of the time to give people the tools to help themselves. There are times though that the Holy Spirit will lay someone on my heart and I will help them with what they need.

There was a girl one time who came in to the hospital with complications from her pregnancy. I sat and talked with her for an hour which was unusual. She never asked for a thing but I could tell from our conversation that she and her family had a lot of needs. I felt like the Lord wanted me to take action so I asked the dept I work in to help me collect things for this family. We ended up collecting money and practical items for this family.

There wasn't anything necessarily special about this girl. I just knew at that time in her life she simply needed some help and help is what we gave her. I'm not saying this to make myself look good. It's just an example of how sometimes peoples needs just need to be met. For the most part though I give people the tools to help themselves. If they truly need something then they will do what needs to be done and they will know how to help themselves the next time.

[Marilyn777]

That is a good question and especially important in my profession (social work). I get alot of homeless folks, those who can't afford this or that. Frankly, just alot of needy folks out there. I let the Holy Spirit tell me. I try most of the time to give people the tools to help themselves. There are times though that the Holy Spirit will lay someone on my heart and I will help them with what they need.

There was a girl one time who came in to the hospital with complications from her pregnancy. I sat and talked with her for an hour which was unusual. She never asked for a thing but I could tell from our conversation that she and her family had a lot of needs. I felt like the Lord wanted me to take action so I asked the dept I work in to help me collect things for this family. We ended up collecting money and practical items for this family.

There wasn't anything necessarily special about this girl. I just knew at that time in her life she simply needed some help and help is what we gave her. I'm not saying this to make myself look good. It's just an example of how sometimes peoples needs just need to be met. For the most part though I give people the tools to help themselves. If they truly need something then they will do what needs to be done and they will know how to help themselves the next time.

Kristin that is very cool what you did! I find that if you are really listening to the Holy Spirit He will guide you in the moments when you are with someone and they really are in need of some help. He gives you discernment to tell the difference. And you know what the Word says about helping strangers you may be helping Angels that are passing through! When I get to Heaven I'm going ask if there were any Angels that came to visit me! That would be awesome!

Marilyn

[Guest JesusLovesU]

Thanks for these posts.. I'm experiencing growing pains in this area at the moment.. so this was a word in due season for me..

Kelli