Seems that many peoples hearts have grown so hard that they no longer understand acts of just plain everyday kindness. They worry about being 'cheated' more then what an act of compassion can do for your own soul.
It really comes back to a point I have been driving recently. People scoff especially what I call the 'Dead Beat' crowd here on FR, because their hearts have become so harddened that they can no longer see the difference between the poor, the ill and the slothful.
To the poor and the ill the bible instructs us to help as we can:
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:45
"Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;" Proverbs 17:5
But the the Bible has plenty to say about the Slothful:
"04 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. Proverbs 20:4
"For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
“Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;” Proverbs 17:5
I only mock stuipid people who are “poor” due to their own damned stuipidiity, especially when they have items that are more expensive than my own and they spend their meager money frivolously and cannot manage their own money because their priorites are all screwed up.
“I have no doubt that the ‘Dead Beats’ crowd here on FR will have plenty to say about this. “
Wow, why are you starting out a post with such a judgmental first sentence? No one has even commented yet.
Forgot to add that in the last few years i have been helping my “Working poor” friends make ends meet who have been screwed over by obamacare policies...
Nice story. I think if everyone, was able to do something kind to another (just a kind word, buy them a bottle of water, etc.) in their circle of influence (just around them, where they are), i can’t imagine how many paying-it-forward acts there would be? How a kind word or a simple act may REALLY make someone’s day?
“You didn’t judge”
Yes they did , they judged you needed it more than they did
When you are standing in line with someone or have personal contact with them, you are in a much better position to judge whether they truly need help or are just gaming the system.
It’s why faith-based charities are so much more effective than government programs.
Obviously the stranger sized-up the situation and determined that the lady was in distress. Kudos to him!
I wish opportunities like this were presented to me every day.
Maybe they are and I just don’t see them. I’ll try harder.
I love good news stories. Thank you.
Great story - thanks for posting!
"04 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. Proverbs 20:4
"For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Did you stop to think that maybe this woman WAS slothful? Your points about us having hard hearts may be very well and good. But Jesus also said
That is another, less talked about, evil of our welfare system. It builds animosity between those paying taxes and those receiving benefits to the point where the 'payers' feel they have done enough by having their wages confiscated. They may misdirect their anger at the government towards the truly needy. And, yes, there are needy people even in the U.S.
Thank you for posting this.
Couple of weeks ago, I saw a disheveled looking man sitting beside the on ramp, with a sign that said “I-26 S”
Had a thought “You need to help that man.” Why did that happen to me? I pass those people with signs out every day. And ignore them.
But, with the thought, came another one like -”You REALLY need to do this.” Was that God?
I wish I knew.
I took no chances. I swung back, picked him up and bought him a bus ticket out of town.
I admit to being baffled by it.
I had a haggard old lady in a grocery store parking lot one night give me a sob story about being from out of town stranded with a dead car and needed $20 more to make the cab fare to her town 40 miles away.
Gave her $20 and took her to a fast food place to be safe while she waited for a cab. After thinking twice about it I doubled back and watched for a few minutes. She left the fast food place and walked down the street towards a convenience store. I got there before her and pulled in next to a cop in the side parking lot and told him I think I just got took, and went over the story with him, telling him if he didn’t recognize the woman as a “regular” on his beat I’d just let it go.
The woman gets closer and the cop calls out, “Hey Flo!, come over here.” He knew her well. Got my $20 back and a profuse thank-you from the scam artist for not pressing charges.
Whats a 'Dead Beats' crowd?
Conservatives are about self-reliance, private charity, small government - which adds up to promoting local community strength vs. government strength. It was nice that a stranger stepped up to help this woman. I don't care what nice story is presented in the media (and there are a lot) - EBT/Food Stamps and top-down Federal social-engineering programs actually create more poverty and dependency than they resolve.
Bravo for you! My life circumstances changed over the last year and I understand what you are saying. There are moochers and cheaters in today’s world (as in any world) but with Obama’s economics, more and more of the middle class are falling out of the system. Which, of course, is intended.
a great act of kindness and charity is always a blessing, even to the giver. It is wise to remain humble and quiet though, lest the obozo and his minions out law such acts.
Charity is wonderful as long as the able recipients don’t make it a career choice.
Too many lazy scumbags out there #ing it up for those that really need it. An empty belly on occasion for these lazy thieves might not be a bad thing. Does saying this make me part of the “Dead Beats” crowd?
I have no problem with giving money and aid to the poor.
My problem is with those who have defrauded me for large amounts pretending to need money and giving it to their drug addicted relatives.
I’m very very cautious now.