If people will not work, they should not eat
1. Most of us have seen someone holding up a sign that says, “Will work for food.”
2. We may have seen others who carry signs that say they are out of work and need help.
3. People call the church building and ask us to pay for rent, utilities, gasoline, or something else.
4. In our society we are exposed to people who ask us or the church for money.
AS CHRISTIANS HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THESE PEOPLE? SHOULD WE GIVE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR IT? SHOULD WE TELL THOSE WHO ASK TO GO ELSEWHERE? SHOULD WE HELP SOME PEOPLE BUT NOT OTHERS? TONIGHT I WANT TO LOOK AT THESE QUESTIONS IN LIGHT OF SOME PASSAGES; MY PRIMARY TEXT IS ACTS 3.
A. As we approach this study I want to make a disclaimer.
B. I do not have all the answers concerning the people who are ask for benevolent help.
C. Other preachers and elders would make this same admission.
D. Benevolence work can be a very difficult job.
E. On the one hand we do not want to tell everyone “no.”
F. Christians are supposed to be people who help those who are needy.
G. On the other hand needy people in this community could take every penny of our weekly collection.
H. We have a limited amount of resources.
2. In view of these to extremes how do we determine what to do?
3. Let’s see if we can find some answers in Acts 3.
4. Last week we studied about the man who is featured in this chapter.
5. Luke described a man who was at least 40 years old and he was “lame” (Acts 3:2).
6. He had been lame from his mother’s womb (Acts 3:2).
7. Because this man had a crippling disease he was a beggar.
8. Each day people laid him at a temple gate (verse 2) and he asked for “alms.”
9. This beggar asked people to make a contribution to him.
A. It seems pretty clear that this man was someone who had a real need.
B. His foot problem prevented him from functioning as everyone else.
C. His problem was real and very serious. He was not faking an injury or conning people for money.
10. This man asked Peter and John for help (verse 3). READ.
11. This part of the story is something that we can identify with.
12. As Christians people sometimes ask us for assistance.
13. These people may not be beggars, but like the lame man, they do ask for help.
14. According to this account Peter and John “looked” at this man (4a).
A. This part of the account is applicable to today.
B. These apostles did not give this man the brush off treatment.
C. They responded to him.
D. We may apply this information to our day and time.
E. If people are asking for help, we should take enough time to listen to them.
F. If we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world we can take time to hear someone’s story.
G. We may not give them what they are asking for, but we should hear their story.
H. This is one way to apply the golden rule.
15. Peter and John were made aware of what this man wanted.
16. According to the text the apostles were willing to help him.
17. This was the right thing to do.
A. The Bible approves of helping those who have needs.
B. In Mk. 10:21 a man was told to sell his goods and distribute the money to the poor.
C. In Lk. 14:13 Jesus spoke of inviting the “poor” to a feast.
18. Peter and John wanted to give the lame man a gift.
19. Their help, however, was not in the form of cash.
20. VERSE 6 – READ.
A. When we and others think of benevolence we normally think of cash.
B. This is the kind of help that people normally ask for.
C. People need gas so they ask for money or for us to go to the gas station with them and pay.
D. People need a bill paid so they want money.
E. This kind of help can be given but this is not the only type of help that can be given.
F. Acts 3 shows that we may help people by altering their circumstances.
G. Benevolence occurs if people receive assistance in a way that is not the way they have requested.
H. At times people have called me saying that they need a place to stay.\
I. They ask if we will put them up in a motel.
J. During these calls I usually ask several questions.
K. One of my standard questions is this:
L. “If a Christian will put you up for the night would this be okay?”
M. This offer would meet the caller’s need.
N. A place to stay is being offered.
O. Unless my recollection is faulty no one has ever accepted this offer.
P. Almost without exception people really don’t want a place to stay.
21. They want a free motel room with cable t.v. and a free meal at the local restaurant.
22. If a free motel getaway is what people want we have no obligation to provide that.
23. This not the business of the church.
24. Paul made a point in 2 Thess. 3:10 that may be applied to this kind of request.
25. If someone is not willing to work they should not eat (be helped).
26. Those who make their way through life by freeloading often try to live off of churches.
27. We have no right as a church or as individual Christians to give money to freeloaders.
28. Jesus said that we are not to cast our pearls before swine (Mt. 7:6).
29. This instruction has application to the gospel (the good news).
30. In principle this teaching may be applied to people who want to live off churches.
31. When people try to misuse and abuse our help we have no duty to aid them.
32. What if a user of illegal drugs called us and said, “I need $50 to buy some more cocaine?”
33. This would be a request for help but it would not be a request that we would honor.
34. Some requests must be rejected.
35. THERE OTHER CASES WHERE WE AS A CONGREGATION AND INDIVIDUALS MUST SAY “NO, WE WILL NOT HELP.” THERE WILL ALSO BE CASES LIKE ACTS 3. IN THESE INSTANCES WE WILL PROVIDE A TYPE OF HELP THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE KIND BEING ASKED FOR.
A. The lame man wanted one thing but he got another.
B. In this country this is an effective means of helping people.
C. Think about the man who holds out a sign which says, “Will work for food.”
D. If we were to stop by and make a contribution that person would surely take the money.
E. In light of Acts 3 we learn how we can present these people with an alternative kind of help.
F. We could pull up to someone holding a sign and say something like this:
G. “Restaurant ___ has a help wanted sign. Climb in. We will help you apply for a job”
H. If the man with the sign is telling the truth he will have an interest in going.
I. If he is not telling the truth he will not want to go.
J. Here is another suggestion. Pull up to him and say,
K. “I have some furniture to be moved; is now a good time for you to move it?”
36. Some of our help can take a form other than what a person is asking for.
37. The reason for this is found in Acts 3.
38. Let’s say that the apostles passed by the lame man on Monday.
39. Let’s further imagine that instead of healing him they gave him $5 or even $20.
A. If they came by this same gate the following day, would this man have probably still been there?
B. The Bible says that he was laid at this gate every day.
C. If the apostles gave him money they could have expected to see him there the next day.
D. The apostles men found a long-term solution for this man’s problem.
E. This is one of the things that we can pursue when people ask us to help them.
F. Finding a long term solution is not always possible. In many cases it is possible.
G. When people ask me for help they almost never want a long-term solution.
40. Many of those who call for help want money for “this month’s rent.”
41. They want help for tomorrow’s car payment.
42. If these needs were met, guess who will be calling next month? The same people.
43. Many are not interested in long-term solutions.
44. This takes us back to 2 Thess. 3:10.
45. If people do not want to work (or work on problems long term), we have no obligation.
46. If we are asked to help we should try to find a long-term solution for people.
47. Those who really want to be helped will welcome this kind of help.
48. This is made clear in Acts 3.
49. The lame man didn’t ask to go back to being lame.
50. His situation was bettered and he was thankful – verse 8 – READ.
51. This man had a change in his circumstances and he was happy.
52. Those who are truly needy want long-term solutions to their problems.
A. As we look at Acts 3 we discover some other points.
B. Let’s take a second look at the 6th verse – READ.
C. Peter said that he would give “what he had.”
D. This is consistent with Acts 11:29.
E. In Acts 11:29 Luke said that Christians helped “according to their ability.”
F. The Lord had the ability to feed thousands of people. He used this ability.
G. The apostles had the ability to perform miraculous cures. They used their abilities.
H. Our abilities are not this extensive.
I. We are not without the means to help people.
J. We have a duty to aid those who need assistance.
53. However, our help is partly based upon our ability.
54. We often have abilities that are unrelated to giving people cash.
55. Think again of the man who holds up the sign, “Will work for food.”
56. It would be consistent with NT Christianity to go to this man and say, “Are you hungry?”
57. The person would likely say “yes.”
58. We may then say, “I am a Christian. I want to help you.”
59. “I want to take you to my house and feed you.”
60. This offer is one way to help “according to our abilities.”
61. Helping people needs to be part of our Christian life.
A. In Acts 20:35 we find that Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
B. This verse also says that we are to “remember the weak.”
C. That is, we are to help people.
D. Cornelius was looked upon favorably by God because he gave “alms.”
E. Part of Job’s greatness (29:15) was based upon his care for the needy.
F. In Mt. 25 Jesus spoke about His people helping those who needed aid.
G. Dorcas made clothing for people (Acts 9); she did “almsdeeds” (9:36).
H. Lk. 10 (story of the good Samaritan) condemns those who did not help someone who needed help.
62. In the second chapter of Acts (2:44-47) we find that Christians helped fellow Christians.
63. Christians also helped those who were not members of the church (Acts 3, the lame man).
64. Today we have this same obligation.
65. As Christians we will never have a duty to cast our pearls before swine.
66. The Lord has never obligated His people to support those who are lazy, idle, and con artists.
67. When people really need help we must be among the first to step forward and render aid.
68. One of the people known for helping others was Mother Teresa.
A. This woman went to Calcutta, India. She wanted to help people.
B. She wanted to aid those who were homeless, lonely, and dying.
C. Today we live in a time when helping people is often equated with passing out money.
D. Acts 3 and modern acts of kindness reminds us that help comes in many forms.
E. It is said that Mother Teresa’s first patient was a old, homeless woman.
F. This lady was half eaten by rats and maggots.
G. According to the story Mother Teresa bathed and cared for this woman till she died.
69. Benevolence comes in many forms.
70. It can come from the checkbook or wallet.
71. It came from letting people stay in our house or eat at our table.
72. It can come through helping someone apply for and get a job.
73. It occurs when people who cannot afford medical care are taken to a doctor for treatment.
74. One of the tests for Christians is helping those who have needs.
75. Those who pass this test and are faithful will hear, “Come ye blessed of my Father…”
76. Is it our goal to inherit the kingdom of God?