People are poor for many reasons, a lot of them have to do with the choices they have made. If the term was defined more strictly then I might agree. But simply being "poor" doesn't do it for me.

I feel obligated to feed any hungry child anywhere anytime for any reason. I also feel obligated to do what I can to help a healthy unemployeed adult find some kind of honest work or method of feeding their family. This could include plowing them a garden, helping them enroll in some kind of classes or vo-tech program or helping them secure a loan for a carpet cleaning van etc.

Well put, HHSDad.

 

I agree.

 

I also believe that we do a disservice to people who refuse to help themselves when we give them help simply for the asking. In most cases, we also doom their children and grandchildren to the same sort of life when we provide unwarranted help to the voluntarily needy.

 

Couldn't have said it better. :thumb:

 

I voted no basically because of this. I don't think the answer can be simply yes or no to "Are we obligated to help the poor".

 

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

And I too agree 100% with HHS

 

Couldn't have put it better myself.

 

I also have to agree with HHS, and I nominate him for post of the week in the P&R forum.:thumb:

We have a moral obligation to help those who are unable to help themselves. We have no obligation to those who refuse to help themselves.

 

Very well said :thumb:

 

Nothing angers me more than having to help people who simply want to do nothing and are worthless to society as a whole.

 

On the other hand, unfortunately these worthless members of society are able to reproduce. So if even a small amount of my money goes towards food or clothing for a child of one of these lazy bums, I'm fine with that.

People are poor for many reasons, a lot of them have to do with the choices they have made. If the term was defined more strictly then I might agree. But simply being "poor" doesn't do it for me.

 

:thumb: I think we have a choice to help those that are less fortunate. I don't believe we will be destined to burn in hell if we don't though.

We have a moral obligation to help those who are unable to help themselves. We have no obligation to those who refuse to help themselves.

 

I don't think you can show me that anywhere in scripture. The "if they don't work, they don't eat" scripture is not relevant to this discussion b/c it is talking about missionaries/evangelist sponging off of the people they are evangelizing. The other thing is - how do you know who is truly needy?

Paul tells us we should help the widows and orphans. James 1:27

Yes, I do feel like its my moral obligation to help the poor.

 

MORAL OBLIGATION as defined by 'Lectric Law Library's Lexicon, A duty which one owes, and which he ought to perform, but which he is not legally bound to fulfil.

 

When I look at scripture its plain to me not only as a Christian but as an individual whether I'm American or Chinese does not matter, what matters is that I help the poor because its the right thing to do.

 

1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.”

Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’"

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Proverbs 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”

Proverbs 22:9 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

We have a moral obligation to help those who are unable to help themselves. We have no obligation to those who refuse to help themselves.

 

Right. Good statement.

We have a moral obligation to help those who are unable to help themselves. We have no obligation to those who refuse to help themselves.

 

Nail meet hammer!!!

 

:thumb:

Yes, I do feel like its my moral obligation to help the poor.

 

MORAL OBLIGATION as defined by 'Lectric Law Library's Lexicon, A duty which one owes, and which he ought to perform, but which he is not legally bound to fulfil.

 

When I look at scripture its plain to me not only as a Christian but as an individual whether I'm American or Chinese does not matter, what matters is that I help the poor because its the right thing to do.

 

1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Deuteronomy 15:7 “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.”

Matthew 5:42 “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’"

1 Timothy 6:18 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

Proverbs 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.”

Proverbs 22:9 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

 

Is there scripture that defines "poor"? I'm thinking that the poor talked about in scripture MAY differ from many of the "poor" our tax dollars help today.

 

Yes, I do believe we have a moral obligation to help the poor and it is something I do regularly. My definition of poor may differ from yours though. My definition of help may also differ. If our neighbors are deserving of a helping hand, we should be reaching out to them.

We have a moral obligation to help those who are unable to help themselves. We have no obligation to those who refuse to help themselves.

Agree...100%!

Everyone that has voted "no", has earned brownie points in my book...:thumb:

I don't think you can show me that anywhere in scripture. The "if they don't work, they don't eat" scripture is not relevant to this discussion b/c it is talking about missionaries/evangelist sponging off of the people they are evangelizing. The other thing is - how do you know who is truly needy?

Where did I say anything about scripture?

Everyone that has voted "no", has earned brownie points in my book...:thumb:

Do you think that the idea of almsgiving, helping the poor, etc. has no ethical or moral implications?