We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13
“Discernment by volunteers, and organizational barriers against fraud, were important not only to prevent waste but to preserve morale among those who were working hard to remain independent. One charity worker noted, “nothing is more demoralizing to the struggling poor than successes of the indolent or vicious.” The St. Louis solution was to require volunteers to abide by a set of rules of giving:
– To give relief only after personal investigation of each case.
– To give necessary articles and only what is immediately necessary.
– To give what is least susceptible of abuse.
– To give only in small quantities in proportion to immediate need; and less than might be procured by labor, except in cases of sickness.
– To give assistance at the right moment; not to prolong it beyond duration of the necessity which calls for it. . . .
– To require of each beneficiary abstinence from intoxicating liquors. . . .
– To discontinue relieving all who manifest a purpose to depend on alms rather than their own exertions for support.”
Robert and Jeanette Lauer in “Will a Private War on Poverty Succeed? The Case of the St. Louis Provident Association,” Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare X (March 1983) 16-17.
The St. Louis Provident Association offers keen advice for those who want to generously help the poor. Read the Scripture and the list again. This surfaces for me.
To follow these rules is work. It requires diligence and discernment. It’s easier to give a handout, to offer aid to the masses. It’s a lot harder to understand each case.
But the Apostle Paul knows that if we take this approach, discernment weeds out the idle and disruptive. I urge you to do the same as you aim to give an account for your stewardship.
This morning I have a meeting with brothers administrating the Palmful of Maize effort in Malawi. We will discuss Scriptures like this one and the one cited yesterday.
As the plan to distribute maize to the needy gets underway, we plan to take the hard road requiring discernment and diligence. This will also help the morale of the whole effort.
God help us. I give thanks today for these seven rules to help guide us.
Read more