Are there times when we shouldn’t be generous?
It’s a provocative thought.
In your day-to-day life, opportunities to bless others will always pop up. Whether you are out and about in your community or scrolling social media on your phone, you likely regularly encounter people seeking help—and specifically money—for hardships.
In that moment, you must decide whether or not to get involved. How should you respond?
After years of having needs thrust before you, it’s possible you feel hardened to them. You’ve likely heard a variety of stories from people asking for help. Maybe you’ve even been lied to.
If you don’t have an existing relationship with the person asking, you’re forced to decide on their need just based on how you feel. Knowing that sometimes helping actually hurts, it’s appropriate to try to be strategic with whom you help.
This is a complex topic, one much bigger than can be addressed in a short article. Nonetheless, here are three things to consider to help you decide how to respond.
1. It’s OK to pause and consider the request.
Just because you’re skeptical doesn’t mean you’re heartless. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus encouraged his followers to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (ESV). As you evaluate your heart, if you find you are hesitant to help, it’s appropriate to identify why. Does your hesitation stem from a closed-fisted attitude? Does it come from trying to be shrewd with the resources you steward? You should never need to rush when making financial decisions, and benevolence is included here. It’s valid to ask for clarity when giving.
2. Choose to see yourself as a partner rather than a savior.
Assuming someone else will help can be a deterrent to acting with generosity. However, there is a difference between stepping up to take action and believing you are the only solution. There are usually others serving too whom you can partner with.
Aim to research and identify the local ministries that help the less fortunate. Identify national or global aid organizations that are transparent and faithful in their work. You can choose to support these organizations in addition to supporting individuals who ask for help, and then point those individuals toward these helpful resources as well.
3. Don’t worry about if you’re being lied to.
People will justify any lie if they believe it’s important enough. Sometimes those in need fabricate stories because they are desperate. Choose to prioritize another’s well-being over confronting the sin of lying.
It takes work to keep your heart from becoming hardened. When faced with a request, aim to give wisely, and trust the Lord to honor your benevolent efforts. Scripture teaches us that being good stewards of the resources God has given us comes down to faith. Jesus encourages us in the journey, telling us, “freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8 NIV).
