Fish, Bread and the Poor

"For you always have the poor with you;

 but you do not always have Me." 

 Jesus Christ (Matt 26:11)

Anyone who has worked at a mission in a large city will soon discover that there are people you can help others you cannot.  Some will learn all the right bible verses and tears will stream down their face all the while they are looking for a way to lift your wallet.  Some will never follow advice and you can throw piles of money at them and they will flush it down the toilet.  They would rather live with their pets in poverty then to build relationships with humans.  Their pets will put up with them but other humans will not.  They can never keep a job because they can never learn to keep their mouth shut.  They always know more than the boss.  I have housed such people, and I have had to throw some out in the middle of the night.  Some people will follow Christ and go to church as long as they are getting something.  Jesus had people who followed him merely because he had fish and bread.  If you are not a good steward of the resources God gives you the Devil will send parasites to bleed you dry.  This is one of the tests of being a Christian, knowing when to be gracious and knowing when to guard your assets. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

 I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

  Jesus Christ (John 10:10)