Dignity and Charity

The daughter was angry with her mother. “Why are you asking for salt from the neighbor? There is enough at home.” The mother explained: “God has blessed us, and we can help others. When I ask someone for some inexpensive thing, they joyfully give. That helps them to understand the joy of giving, us that we are also dependent on others, and builds their self-esteem and dignity.” Some individuals and organizations help people but kill their spirits, destroy their futures, and even humiliate them.

Doing good Christians are called to do good. (I Peter 2:21) Lord Jesus Christ did good deeds when he ministered on the earth. (Acts 10:38) Small deeds of help, good words of affirmation, counseling words of comfort, encouraging words to grow, praying for their needs, and cheering words, when they succeed, are doing good with words. Blessing the younger, embracing the older, and sitting along with the elderly are good deeds. Paying for the fees of poor children, and providing clothes and uniforms, toys and books for children are good deeds.

Duty Christians ought to do good not as a sense of duty, but by the love of God. When a person does it with a sense of duty, tends to do the minimum. On the other hand, when a person does it with the love of God, a maximum is got done.

Develop The intention of helping others is to develop others to become better, greater, and self-sustaining people. Hence, the resources needed like training, equipment, and opportunities are created for their growth.

Dependency Some do charity and keep the people in a dependency syndrome. People are not empowered to grow and support themselves. But Christian charity is to wean them from dependency and become self-reliant.

Diligence The services are offered with due diligence. It is not done haphazardly. Decency, decorum, and best standards are kept.

Delight One who helps and one who receives are delighted that they belong to the same God and share resources given by God.