The Love of Helping Poor People
Life is not for those who are happy to help poor people. It’s not that they don’t want to help; it’s just that they can’t imagine helping poor people.
The statement “I’d love to help, but I’m not rich” are a reflection of your position, not theirs.
Life is not for those who are happy to help poor people. Unfortunately, this is the way it is, and some people are not ready to make that step. It’s not that they don’t want to help; it’s just that they can’t imagine helping poor people. And yet, every single time you ask a person on the street how to help a poor person in your community, you will find them answering your question by stating that they would love to help, but they are not in a position to.
The statement “I’d love to help, but I’m not rich” are a reflection of your position, not theirs. It isn’t a reflection of their character, because you never met them before. You might not like some of their opinions, but the fact remains that they can’t see beyond their own ego. And that is something which can be very difficult to change.
In fact, we tend to think of being rich as a status symbol. Why would someone need to be rich? They could keep doing what they were doing, or they could go work for the government, or something else. So, their “not rich” attitude should come as no surprise.
So, what does that have to do with being poor? That should come as no surprise. People who are poor often get mixed up in thinking about money. So, when you find yourself asking, “How can I help a poor person in my community?” you should take some time to identify the cause of the problem and then solve it.
So, instead of thinking, “They need the money,” or “What do they need?” try, “How can I give them support?” That’s where your heart comes in.
You can’t reach poor people by simply handing out dollars. You need to connect with them on an emotional level. You need to show them that they aren’t alone, that you understand their pain, and that they aren’t crazy. They will see that and then they will act on it.
Sometimes, it’s difficult to know how to do that. When that happens, it’s really important to remember that being poor is not a choice. You can’t just say that you hate the poor and suddenly your heart breaks and you help them out with your support.
There’s nothing wrong with you; that’s the problem. Many of us who believe that having compassion for the poor is “selfish” actually feel guilty about it. And this self-righteousness can keep us from doing what we should do.
What can you do to avoid the trap of thinking that the love of helping poor people is “selfish”? The answer is simple. You have to stop thinking that “selfish” is a bad thing. Instead, you have to come to see that caring for people whom you don’t even know is selfish.
Now, many people can’t live without other people. That’s fine, as long as you know that it is not the whole story. We all need people to talk to, to cheer us up, to laugh with, to comfort us, to teach us, to listen to, to understand, to encourage us, to care for. And you don’t have to be rich to be happy.
By all means, do things for others when you’re rich, because you should. But don’t get caught up in the evil of thinking that it’s only right to do for yourself.
Think about what’s going on in the world today, and figure out which of the two paths are better for you. Be willing to help those who aren’t rich, even if you’re not rich yourself. because helping them will make you better.
