Amen

Thanks, Bill.

Dude, I just read that on my Verse of the Day thing on my Google desktop. Cool.

I've been having a reoccurring conversation with different people. The theme is whether we should feed and take care of the poor.

1st conversation was with a staunch republican who works with the local Mission group to help poor people get jobs and find homes for the homeless. We were talking about republican v democrat and my problems with both sides. His position was that I didn't understand when some 24 year old guy refuses to work, how can we want to help him?

2nd conversation was with my best friend and he and I agree that we help and continue to help because Christ showed us by example what grace is and told us to feed the poor. By telling people they have to try to get jobs in order to receive our help we are negating the grace part of grace.

3rd conversation was with my mother and she said that if people aren't willing to work then we shouldn't have to take care of them.

I think we shouldn't grow weary of doing good despite it being foolishness to the world. If Christ were to say to us, that in order to get the grace and mercy he offers we must do ...something, that would completely negate everything Christians believe about faith being a gift from God and not of works that no man can boast.

But in all sincerity I understand how being first American citizens (and later becoming Christians) it's difficult to think of other values other than the American Dream. We want what's fair for others, but grace and mercy for ourselves.

Well stated, Lauren.

I do think that part of the issue is determining what we mean by "help". For instance (ok, extreme example coming here) does it help an alcoholic if you give him alcohol? Well, it makes him feel better, temporarily.

I think that grace can be worked out even in saying "no". There's hardly a better picture (though still imperfect) of God's grace on earth than when looking at a parent's love for his/her children. Yet what parent would give the child whatever he/she wanted, without teaching them to work and learn to get what they want on their own?

So there is a tension there.

Finally, doing the right thing (that can appear graceless), rather than the easy thing, can be very hard work, and can make us weary, and yet still be a good work. For instance, your friend who helps poor people get jobs. That is certainly more of an investment, and harder work, than just passing out meals.

Thoughts?

That was great Bill.

It does seem to me from various conversations that people who don't want to help (I'm only talking about the people I have personally talked with) they don't want to help because "it isn't fair" or "no one helped me" etc. I come away thinking those were very selfish statements.

But also, I see some very lazy people who aren't doing anything but taking advantage of grace and free hand-outs. My heart breaks for them because if only they could see the better way, then they could get ahead and not be useless. But maybe I am being selfish by wanting them to contribute to society?

well, anyway, I think you must be right that sometimes love means doing things that appear graceless. so for me, I will check my motives and try to do what is out of love.