God and Manipulators

[newton3005]

Lord Jesus in Matthew 25:31-40 says to help the poor and needy. But how do you differentiate between someone who is truly needy and someone who manipulates at the expense of others? There are people who would have you do things they can do, and there are people with evil intentions who want you to be complicit with them, so you get most of the blame and all of their wrath. And there are people whom you do things for, and they show their appreciation by being angry at you for doing something they asked you to do.

It makes you wonder...in all the litany of things mentioned in Matthew 25:31-40, does Jesus say, ‘I wanted you to do my dirty-work and be my punching bag, and you obliged?,’ and so you can inherit his Kingdom?

It would seem the first thing you have to do is determine if someone is truly needy, or they are pulling your leg. How do you determine that? This is important, since you wouldn’t want to spend time with someone the Bible tells you to avoid. For example, Titus 3:10-11 says, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” The division referred to here, may include the division between good and evil, with the good things being what God approves of and the evil being the things He doesn’t approve of.

So, before you spend your time, you should feel confident enough to differentiate between the two. There are Passages in the Bible which are helpful. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: ...strife, ... fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions...I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The works of the flesh, in and of themselves, are works of evil and not works which bring us closer to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:22 says, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed...” Those who love God, know that God is love, and those who love others, love God, as it says in 1 John 4:16. And those who love others would abide by the Golden Rule to the extent they can. It would seem that if someone is expecting you to do more for them than they would ever even think of doing for you even if they could, that would reasonably give one pause. Is that person capable of loving others, or are they predisposed to doing the works of evil? They may be luring you into a web of deceit and heartbreak, and a total waste.

In a world where people don’t wear signs saying whether they’re with good or with evil, and there are no certifications either way, it is best to keep in mind what God through Jesus wants, so you may do the right thing.

 

[rturner76]

I think we should always help those in need whether we can determine their need is great or not. What we can't do is let people take advantage of us. We have to set boundaries so that we can help people without enabling them.

I do what I can and let it go. I can't get wrapped up in somebody's problem to the point where I make the problem mine and get emotionally invested in solving it for them. I do what I can as I can but I learned how to say no or not even pick up the phone at times when it's somebody "in trouble" again.

 

[disciple Clint]

I think we should always help those in need whether we can determine their need is great or not. What we can't do is let people take advantage of us. We have to set boundaries so that we can help people without enabling them.

I do what I can and let it go. I can't get wrapped up in somebody's problem to the point where I make the problem mine and get emotionally invested in solving it for them. I do what I can as I can but I learned how to say no or not even pick up the phone at times when it's somebody "in trouble" again.

When I have a doubt, I remind myself that if I elect to give, I am giving to God not to the person. I do not give to everyone who asks.