Servants, be wise!
Okay, I’m back.
Wow! It’s been a long time.
I want to share a quick insight:
There are so many of us who offer help to others. And those who come for help are people of many different backgrounds and experiences. Yet, there are those that have no intention of really helping themselves and can become nasty and even dangerous when the help stops coming.
Still, there are Christians out there who not only give these people lots of help, but actually believe that they can change these people with their help and even build them into leaders of the Kingdom.
Allow me to share an ancient story that will help us to see the reality of this situation.
Dr. Heron’s Fee
“Once a wolf had a bone lodged in his throat. He promised a heron that he would give a suitable fee if the latter would let his neck down inside and draw out the bone, thus providing a remedy for his suffering. The heron drew out the bone and immediately demanded his pay. The wolf grinned at him, baring his sharp teeth, and said: ‘It’s enough pay for your medical services to have taken your neck out of a wolf’s mouth safe and sound.’
You’ll get no good in return for giving aid to scoundrels, and you’ll do well not to suffer some injury yourself in the process.”
--Brad H. Young, The Parables: Jewish Traditions and Christian Interpretation
It’s good to remember that many people whom we help are actually, truthfully, and literally dangerous people. We are wise to offer help and back away at times.
Wow! It’s been a long time.
I want to share a quick insight:
There are so many of us who offer help to others. And those who come for help are people of many different backgrounds and experiences. Yet, there are those that have no intention of really helping themselves and can become nasty and even dangerous when the help stops coming.
Still, there are Christians out there who not only give these people lots of help, but actually believe that they can change these people with their help and even build them into leaders of the Kingdom.
Allow me to share an ancient story that will help us to see the reality of this situation.
Dr. Heron’s Fee
“Once a wolf had a bone lodged in his throat. He promised a heron that he would give a suitable fee if the latter would let his neck down inside and draw out the bone, thus providing a remedy for his suffering. The heron drew out the bone and immediately demanded his pay. The wolf grinned at him, baring his sharp teeth, and said: ‘It’s enough pay for your medical services to have taken your neck out of a wolf’s mouth safe and sound.’
You’ll get no good in return for giving aid to scoundrels, and you’ll do well not to suffer some injury yourself in the process.”
--Brad H. Young, The Parables: Jewish Traditions and Christian Interpretation
It’s good to remember that many people whom we help are actually, truthfully, and literally dangerous people. We are wise to offer help and back away at times.
Don’t feel guilty when you get that feeling that you are not safe as you offer help to someone. The fact is, even Jesus escaped at times to prevent being stoned (John 8:59).
We are to be wise as we help others.
Forever learning,
Johnny
8 comments:
Mmmm glad to see The Johnny is back. Always good to hear your wise insight. How's your new appointment?
Yes . . . but do you think that we should, at times, not help people because they clearly have no plan to help themselves?
I have been burned many times . . . have turned away clients who were disgruntled and aggressive . . . however, my rule has always been that I would rather be burned than turn away a legitimate need.
Blessings,
Bret
see...that's why i'm pretty much burnt out (is it burnt or burned??? oh well). the ones who EXPECT it. like i was put here to serve them and their children and their childrens children...etc. it can really put a damper on your heart and spirit, especially when you have a heart that is so open and welcoming as mine. i used to look at a person and see them as good until they wronged me and then, sometimes, i still looked at them as good. i've noticed that i now look at people and see the bad. i assume that they are looking for a handout or some way to take advantage of me and my good intentions...i hate this. i hate looking at the glass as empty, when it's pretty much full. it hurts my heart, my spirit, my faith...good luck with the new chapter of your officership, it's sure to be more trying and exausting than temple ever was.
I'm tired so have only skimmed through your post and comments... first of all, I miss you Johnny and are glad to contact you through the blog world tonight... second of all, Tilden's dad said something one time that I actually took to heart and remembered: he said whenever he helps someone, he just makes sure that his intentions are pure and of God, and then whatever the other person does is his/her call... just as long as he can look at what he did with a clear conscience. I'll read back through your post tomorrow more indepthly and see if I have something different to say. Did I mention that I miss you and your family?
Jesus tells us to love, pray for, and even bless our enemies.
Even if they have ill intentions, we are to help them. But it does not mean that we have to give them a key to our houses.
Jesus does not expect us to be foolish servants. As he says, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16)."
Another important bit of information is contained in the social behavior of the needy during the first century.
Needy people understood the proper behavior of asking for and receiving help.
The Clever Borrower
Rabbi Acha said: “One woman is clever at borrowing, and another woman is not clever at borrowing. The woman who is clever at borrowing goes to her neighbor , and though the door is open, she knocks at it, and says, 'Peace be to you How are you? How is your husband? How are your children? Is it convenient for me to come in?' The neighbor says: 'Come in, what do you require?' The visitor says, 'Have you such and such a utensil that you can give me?' The neighbor answers: 'Yes.' The woman not clever at borrowing goes to a neighbor, and though the door is closed, she opens it, and says to her, 'Have you such and such a utensil?' The neighbor answers, 'No.'"
Much of our frustration is not in our inability to help or receive help, but in the lack of manners of some of us who are needy.
Attitude matters! And God does expect us to be courteous when we are in need. An attitude of entitlement is not the way we are to express ourselves as we ask for help.
I agree with everything everyone has said and I very much like Johnny's ancient fables... but sometimes, those in need have never been taught how to be polite. Seriously. Take the kids at 614 for example. They are having to be taught how to be polite, how to not expect things from others, and how to properly ask for something when you want/need it.
There are also cultural differences between all of us who have posted and probably the majority of the people who come asking us for help. In their culture, they may not think the way they are "asking" (which sometimes to us seems more like demanding) is rude...
people who are in need have sometimes been through so much that I know I can't imagine having gone through, and that sure does do a number to you. Many of them have had to figure out ways to get around the burocracy of our "helping agencies" that are still sprinkled with subconscious prejudices and institutional discrimination. It's no wonder they seem rude to us. the sociology of the poor is really something that needs to be understood by those of us in the business working with them. There is usually a reason why someone is acting the way they are... sometimes those reasons stem from years and years of injustices...
Yes we should use caution when helping others... and yes we should be shrewd when working with needy people... but we can't let our own pride and intentions get in the way of us doing Pure work. And yes, while we are in the process of helping others, we should also be enabling these people to be able to help themselves.
As I read Stephanie's comment, I thought of how many centuries have gone by without the Body of Christ being an effective teacher of God-centered, neighborly behavior.
We expect people, including ourselves, to just "know" how to be good neighbors. There is a reason that God gave us the instructions we call the Bible. And it wasn't so that we could only "trust the Spirit to guide us." God's Word is given as His loving instructions and guidance for placing us all in a right relationship with our fellow human beings. When we learn God’s instructions, we are not offensive, but refreshing to one another whether we are helping or being helped.
One more story from the ancient teachers of God's people:
The Tenacious Daughter
"Rabbi Akiva told this parable: 'To a king who had two daughters. One was tenacious and the other was gracious. When the tenacious one wanted something and came before him, he said: Give her what she wants so she will get out of here. But when the gracious one wanted something and came in before him, he lengthened his dealings with her because he enjoyed listening to her conversation."
Wouldn't it be great if God's teachers were so effective that when we found ourselves in need, we were actually appreciated as we came for help?
How often do we live by the motto: "A friend in need is a friend to avoid?"
I want to be someone who is gracious, even in times of need.
Forever learning,
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