Show me where Jesus says that we are to "judge" the poor on whether they are poor by their own lack of effort or means that were out of their control?

 

Let's say a person is flatout lazy and does not help themselves, should Christians help them? I don't see where Jesus put quantifications on helping the poor.

 

 

I'm not really in the mood to do a lot of reseach and verse interpreting, so I hope you'll allow me to just express my opinion.

 

I think the difference is in the amount of assistance. I would not deny food from my table to a starving man regardless of how he came to that point. I would not force a man to stand outside in the freezing cold with no prospect of shelter. However, I feel no compulsion to provide permanent shelter, pay for his education, repair his car, pay for his routine medical and dental care, and send him a check once a month if he shows me no inclination to use it to improve his situation.

Show me where Jesus says that we are to "judge" the poor on whether they are poor by their own lack of effort or means that were out of their control?

 

Let's say a person is flatout lazy and does not help themselves, should Christians help them? I don't see where Jesus put quantifications on helping the poor.

What about "God helps those who help themselves?"

What about "God helps those who help themselves?"

I did a search on Bible Gateway for the word helps. Nothing like this.

 

Maybe that is one of those sayings that is attributed to the Bible but not actually in the Bible. Like the spare the rod, spoil the child. That is not in the Bible but I think attributed to Ben Franklin.

"God helps those who helps themselves" may not be in the Bible (hence the , I think)...however, "Do not cast your pearls before the swine" is...I've always taken that to mean when people are obviously rejecting you, your help, your message...leave them to it.

"God helps those who helps themselves" may not be in the Bible (hence the , I think)...however, "Do not cast your pearls before the swine" is...I've always taken that to mean when people are obviously rejecting you, your help, your message...leave them to it.

The only part of that mindset is that this Scripture is squarely in the section on judging others. The Scripture I noted.

 

Matthew 7 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 

Matthew 7

Judging Others

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

 

6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

 

 

I would see the pearls as the kingdom of God as in this Scripture the kingdom of heaven is likened to pearls.

 

Matthew 13:44-46 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

How presumptious! You can't say someone is WRONG in this.

You paint everyone with a pretty broad brush. Many living in poverty are CHILDREN!

 

You are a snob. Not everyone is poor because of a poor choice. You need to get out among the poor you claim to have spawned from and hear their stories and see their struggles.

 

 

So you're a proponent, then, of an aristocracy. Basically that's what you have in your comment above. You have a class system, and in those classes, wealthy people control the wealth of everyone else.

 

Yeah, like working 2 or 3 jobs, raising kids, etc.

 

 

 

The lowest cost foods are high in fat, calories, and preservatives. For a family of 4 living on $21K or less you have grocery decisions that include processed foods, meats higher in fat, and boxed and canned foods full of preservatives. Hamburger Helper goes a lot further than Filet Mignon. Fresh vegetables and fruits are out of the budget for many, if not most. Lean cuts of beef? Forget it!

 

You need to get off your high horse or go live in Cuba with all your riches.

 

Do you have any solutions to offer?

With help of my minister and bible gateway, found it.

 

2 Thessalonians 3

Warning Against Idleness

6In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

 

14If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

 

For those who shout to the heavens about NOT JUDGING, ummm, how do you take 14 and 15? I contend that the judging Scripture with the adulteress that is so often brought up is about an ETERNAL judgement which the stoners were performing since they wanted to take her life.

James 1:27

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Matthew 25:ylsuper:

Matthew 25:ylsuper:

At first, I read about the virgins and I was confused.

Then, the talents and I began to wonder what you meant.

Then, I found what you were referring to.

 

 

The Sheep and the Goats

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

 

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

 

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

 

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

 

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."