Dicernment

It is right to have a heart that would continually give to others, and it pleases God to see this wonderful characteristic in our lives. However, in this area of giving and helping, the Bible also teaches that we must have wise discernment (Matthew 10:16). God gives us certain standards that we must take into account when it comes to giving our time and money to others. When the Bible tells us we are to help others, the purpose is never for us to do this to the point where it becomes detrimental. It's good to do what we're able to do, but 2 Thessalonians 3:10 also reminds us, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." There are people who want to live an irresponsible lifestyle with absolutely no accountability. So there must be limits; we will help someone with a need, but if we see that it's become a chronic life pattern, it's wrong for us to continue to encourage that. It's very harmful to others to contribute to their indolence, laziness, and lack of effort. The old saying "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime" is very true. As long as we see that someone is sincerely making an effort, we should be there to support him in whatever way God leads.

Conundrums

by oii8yoCFfvwcswa65

Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free.
“A gun is like a parachute. If you need one, and don’t
have one, you’ll probably never need one again.” The
definition of the word Conundrum is: something that is
puzzling or confusing.

Here are six Conundrums of socialism in the
United States of America :

1. America is capitalist and greedy –
yet half of the population is subsidized.

2. Half of the population is subsidized –
yet they think they are victims.

3. They think they are victims – yet their
representatives run the government.

4. Their representatives run the government –
yet the poor keep getting poorer.

5. The poor keep getting poorer – yet they
have things that people in other countries
only dream about.

6. They have things that people in other
countries only dream about – yet they want
America to be more like those other countries.

Think about it! And that, my friends, pretty
much sums up the USA in the 21st Century.
Makes you wonder who is doing the math.

These three, short sentences tell you a lot
about the direction of our current government
and cultural environment :

1. We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims
by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are
encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the
actions of a few lunatics.

Funny how that works.
And here’s another one worth considering…

2. Seems we constantly hear about how Social
Security is going to run out of money. But we
never hear about welfare or food stamps running
out of money? What’s interesting is the first
group “worked for” their money, but the second
didn’t.

Think about it…..and Last but not least :

3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans,
no pay raises for our military and cutting our army
but we are not stopping the payments or benefits
to illegal aliens.