Throughout the Scriptures, both old and new, G-d tells us that we are required to help the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the stranger and yet the writers never tell us to go looking for the people to help. Quite the contrary, there is no effort on the part of G-d to eliminate these catastrophes to public order. So what is the appropriate way to deal with these things and the people that they concern.
First, whatever you do, remember the dignity of the human spirit. When a person is poor, but accepts his lot, he is to be honored as among those that Meshiach promises to free. Isa. 61:1-3. Those of you who believe that you are saved sometime before you finish, you have the opportunity to help. But, you should not force your help on another. The gift of the mitzvah of helping the poor is dependent on their willingness to accept your help. You gain the spiritual advantage; they gain the temporal advantage. Therefore, it is an exchange of equals and you should always remember that you gain something from the encounter. Remember the dignity of the poor.
Second, you are not to try to help every poor person, just those you meet. The Didache tells us that the early followers of Yeshua believed in almsgiving, but they put a significant stumbling block in the way of those who would provide alms. There is such a thing as a professional beggar. We see them in every major city. For this reason the Didache tells us to let our alms sweat in our hands meaning that we should be sure that the person to whom we give help really needs it and is not making a fool out of us. We complete that duty when we know the person to whom we give alms. Every one will encounter the truly needy some time in their lives. We must be ready to provide from both our excess and our necessity for others. If you have two pairs of pants and your brother has none, we are commanded to give our brother one of the pairs of pants. It will be obvious that he needs the pants. We will see it is clear by the clothes he wears and may be by his nakedness.
Third, those who would try to eliminate poverty in the world are evil. They seek to use this duty of ours to help the poor as a method of controlling both the world and the poor. The poor will be with us always says Yeshua ha Meshiach. We cannot eliminate the poor. They are there to call us to sensibility, duty and obedience. Their spirituality often far exceeds ours as depending on the grace of Providence is part and parcel of their lives. Eschew those who tell you that they want to eliminate poverty. They will steal your dignity and your mitzvah that allows grace because you have helped the poor, who will be with us always. Help those you can see. The Lord will help those whom you cannot see.
For those among you who remember the King on his official birthday, December 25, perhaps if you pray you will be allowed to give a gift to one of G-d's special people, the poor person, whom you did not previoulys observe to be poor. If you are remembering the Light of G-d which returned to the Holy Place during Chanukkah and you are giving little gifts to each other, remember the King who also gave gifts on Chanukkah (see John 10). He told us that the gift of the Voice and the opportunity to follow the Good Shepherd would be ours if we are among the Chosen. To those of the Muslim faith, remember that alms giving is among the five duties of a true Muslim. In this season of remembering, perhaps you will have an opportunity to give to one less fortunate whose faith shines but who poverty is obvious.
The Good Lord has given me richly in the past two weeks. He has reminded that I do not exist for me but for others and that going home is allowed only when your work is done. It is not done and so I have become the source of opportunity, the poor man that needs to tell you how good our Good Father is and to poor out my life for others. You will see me everywhere. The time has come to build a city on a hill and to let your light to shine.
