"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Ever heard the saying above. People could use this quote in many different ways. The reason they wanted to be a teacher, the reason to teach a trade, the reason to support a program, and the reason to not provide direct relief to someone in need. To put it in real world terms... Give a man a pizza or 5 bucks and he could possibly feed his family for a day. Teach him to make a pizza and he could work at Dominos, Little Ceasers, or Papa Johns and earn $7.25 an hour!
However, when there is a need, a day of learning and then spending weeks trying to convince people to hire you does not fulfill the need and the need is still there. Direct relief is needed and should be offered. Luke 6: 30 states "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." It becomes a great starting point and opening door to begin teaching to fish.
Direct relief needs to be met first and the best way to give direct relief is with personal involvement! God has entrusted you with resources and with a responsibility. Keven Blue gives many suggestions on how to help with direct relief!
Suggestions given of direct relief and suggestions to consider:
- taking someone to lunch with you or giving them a meal from a restarunt
- giving food to food banks or similar organizations but know where you place your money. Understand how your gifts are being used.
- Get involved and volunteer with an organization and STICK WITH IT for a few YEARS! not for a month, not for a semester or season...for a few YEARS!
Your life situation may not be open to serve in person or maybe financially but there are many opportunities for you to serve God's kingdom. Simply knowing how the system itself prevents others from growing and prospering fairly is a wonderful step in the right direction. That is an area I, personally, do not understand.
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