Are people best served when we simply hand them an item? Do we fully love a person or a family if we give them money or food?

We have two clear examples of Scripture that demonstrates a handout. One is Jesus answers a lawyer seeking to justify himself about whom his neighbor is and Jesus give the story of the Good Samaritan. What I want to highlight about this story that Jesus gives is the underlying theme of the Samaritan helping the Jew who was in desperate need. Here we have clear Scripture give us a pattern to help those who are in dire need because of an outside circumstance.

But what about issues that do not fall within this type of crisis? We run into repeatedly, request for assistance with utilities, food and other such issues. Now the typical response is to address the need but when it is repeated, then there is a deeper issue that must be addressed. It is from here that local churches can be the most helpful. We must move from simply being known for giving handouts to giving a hand-up.

In the Old Testament God instructed Israel not to harvest the edges of their fields. The reason for this is that it would be for the poor and sojourner (Lev 19:9-11). Implied here is that the poor and the sojourner would have to do some type of work to eat, meet their need. The opportunity as well as the food is provided by God. In fact we find this in the New Testament as well, where Paul tells the Thessalonians that “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thess 3:10). Now on the surface this may seem tough but in actuality we affirm the dignity of men and women made in the image of God when we by God’s guidance provided opportunities for men and women to provide not only for themselves but also their families.

Why ultimately should we be seen as people who not only give a handout from time to time but also a hand-up? It is couched in God giving the greatest handout of all, Jesus Christ. This is that second example of a handout in Scripture. Consider that our deepest need is to have God who will overcome our poverty of sin. If God would have given us Christ and required us to do something in addition to Christ sacrifice, then that is a hand-up and we could rightly boast in our efforts. Yet God did not give us a hand-up out of our spiritual poverty but He provided it all in His Son Jesus Christ.

So as God provides us opportunities to do either (handouts or hand-ups) we then must take the opportunity to share with men and women why we do such things. God graciously and mercifully helps men and women out of their spiritual poverty, requiring of them no work. We in God’s grace come alongside persons and help them stand on their own feet. Lovingly assisting them to work in a way that not only affirms there dignity but also provides for others and allows them the opportunity to assist others who are in similar situations. Here we will see people fully loved and best served as we the church live out the Gospel.