Target Acquisition

(Proverbs 29:10 KJV)  The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

This is an important reminder for people like me.  As I write it is the Christmas season.  As you read it is slightly past for the Western Church but still in Epiphany, the coming of the wise men, when the Eastern Church celebrates the birth.  People like me are the ones who, living in the prosperity that God has blessed them with, look at people who are struggling and assume that they have made the bad choices that put them there.  I will assert that is true in many cases, but not all. 

Some people are “blameless” (8535).  The KJV is probably better here because it conveys the moral judgment being made.  This could be an important key to evaluating how we distribute our giving.  We should be looking at things like integrity and veracity.  The part that makes this hard is it involves knowing the people we are trying to help.  It does not allow just giving.  It should be targeted.

So?  I need to give more.  For you it might involve being more discerning in your giving.  For instance, if you have $100 you can give, ignore the Red Cross and find the Salvation Army.  That way most of it will actually go to help those in need.