Today on face book someone posted Proverbs 21:13 " Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor, will also cry out and not be answered." As I read his post about helping people out and he is inclined to help those in need. He also stated that he verifies the need. I read this and my mind went to people that I have helped and continue to help to this day.
I am often taken advantage of because I do not "nag", I do not demand, and I continue to treat the person(s) as I always have. I often tell myself "THAT'S IT, NO MORE LENDING! whenever I am having a particular financial hardship, or I feel as if the person(s) is taking my kindness for weakness (I remember my step father once describing me as a cornered rat, I'll scurry away until you trap me in the corner, then I will bare my teeth and fight to the death). Recently, one such person(s) who owes me a good deal of money, called me and asked me to pay a bill that is in his name but I used the service. Now me, I would have said, since I owe you, I'll just pay the bill (which is much less than he owes). But not him, he called me several times a day until he reached me. What makes a person do that? What makes a person think that what they owe is moot? Well, I was angry and out of character (but no where near how some would have behaved), I simply said when I get, I'll pay it and hung up.
But back to the Proverb. I have no problem giving to the POOR. I give to Children's Hunger, Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, every catastrophe we Americans have suffered lately (Sandy, Boston etc.), the man/woman in the street, among others. I can truthfully say that I give to the poor with clean hands and a clean heart. I have a few friends, that I can see myself in (I guess that's why we're friends) who give over and over to the same people all the time. They are never repaid, and appreciated only WHILE they are doing the giving. These people my friends give to are not POOR. They are LAZY. They do not work, have no motivation to work, further their education, have no life plan, and just mooch off of people. I would venture to say, that these are NOT the people this proverb is referring to. Helping this sort of person is like using a teaspoon to dig yourself out of a ditch.
I can see myself clearly in them, I give advice (that I dont follow) because we are cut from the same cloth. We try to be hard hearted, but it is not in our nature. The apostle Paul writes in Roman 12 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." So during these times when I fall into a state of regret and make false promises to myself of "never again", (I do this when I am need and cannot see how I will get out of my predicament). I will remember this proverb, because I know that I DID NOT and CANNOT shut my ears to the poor, therefore I CAN cry out and I WILL be answered.
