Think About It

Over the last several months we have visited a lot about being socially involved.   We have discussed things such as taking care of the widows and orphans as well as helping those who might be homeless or indigent.   I am a firm believer in our need to respond to these needs on a community level, but there is something else that needs to be discussed when it comes to those needing help.   Yes, we should be there for them, but we must also be willing to work with them to help them to become personally independent.   No, we may not know the circumstances of all the people we are called to help, but we will know the backgrounds of some folks – and when we do, we should consider if they need a hand out or a hand up.   Do they need us to take on their responsibilities for them or do they need us to teach them what they need to do, then encourage them to do it for themselves?   I believe the modern terminology for this centers around the concept of “enabling”, but the Bible addressed it in