Lets talk about charity and help?

I agree totally. I was once told this story that one day a man was driving in Toledo. As he turned a curve in an area where there weren't many buildings and no people around, he was flagged by a nun. At first he was wary, thought it could be a robbery attempt. But he stopped anyway. It appeared that the van the nun was driving had ran to fast around the curve and the occupant inside, an invalid, had tumbled over in her wheelchair. What was so bad, the guy told me, was that the lady was stuck on the floor. And worse than this was that the lady could not bend. She had to sit in an almost standing position in her wheelchair. Well this guy didn't like to hurt people and he wondered how he was going to move the lady because she was really stuck on the bottom of the floor. The nun was frantic. When the man almost gave up after trying to pull the invalid and hearing her moans, the nun decided to call EMS. The invalid told the man to go ahead and pull, it will hurt a lot but she needed to be moved. So he listened to her cries and he finally got her unstuck and put her back in her wheelchair. Then the nun and he got the invalid situated. Both the nun and invalid thanked and "God bless you" to the man. And they went their separate ways. The man only told me about it because he doubted if the nun ever told anybody. But he knew that God knew. And I knew that he didn't help for rewards but because he knew the lady was in pain and needed to be moved.

I do charity, i give want i can, i try to help, i think everyone helping a little makes a difference.Always help people around me, friends, family when i can.

We do good things because we are good.... not to let others know that we are good. We do good things because we really are that not to impressed others. Maybe politicians do good to let other know what they are doing and earn votes from them. So that is not charity...that is hypocrisy.

True charity most definitely is done from the heart. I know that there are a lot of people that do charitable things as their way of getting recognition and while the effort is helpful to those that are in need, the true spirit of it is not felt. This is the reason that I chose to do things when I can in a way that is more anonymous. I love to help other people, but I am not doing it for any kind of recognition, I am simply doing it because it is the right thing to do and it also makes me feel good.

I agree, you should help others because love is what makes the world go around. I've given to charities only because others have helped me when I was in a difficult situation..I believe in giving back and I agree no one should flaunt what they've done or how much they've given...but sometimes they get recognized by others for helping. Our church had a mysterious "money angel" for several weeks...some in the church had given their last dimes for Haiti refugees and someone knew that and each week left a $1000 in cash on the church door in an envelope..thankfully the church found it before anyone else. The instructions inside were to distribute among all those at the bible study that night. No name, nothing, just the money and typed instructions. What a miracle and that's the power of God...I believe that he works through people.

I agree completely with this as well although I admit that sometimes it's hard not to want others to know the good deed I've done. Maybe it's because I feel that if someone doesn't know I did a good deed, they won't see that I'm a good person. It's like most of the time I do good deeds; nobody is ever around and it seems to go unnoticed. I suppose it's just human nature though and it's something I need to get past as time goes by.

People who do good deeds to be praised get their reward right at that minute, when they receive recognition. The person who does charitable or good deeds out of the fullness of his heart will receive his reward in Heaven.

What it means it, when one is doing something good, they need not announce to the whole world and let it be known.. Help is supposed to be from the heart and sincerity counts more than superficial charity.. For those really meant to do charitable acts, they are mostly behind the scenes, remaining anonymous, rather than being in the limelight or taking photos with their big cheque with sky hight amount of money etc.. haha =D

I give what I can to charity, in part because I may be in need someday--it's kind of like making deposits in a "favor bank". But mostly I give because I have known poverty, hunger and homelessness and could have used a helping hand. I had nothing to eat for four days once and nobody should have to go through that.

vine charity begins at home, do good because its the only way to be happy and content, and do not brag about it. I have donated moneywhen I could to good causes but as anonymous. If you brag you are not really doing good you are just flattering yourself. yes I agree it must come from the heart because you want to, and you want no reward, you do not even want people to know you did this. You said it best, I have nothing more to offer here.

I do agree with you that sometimes people want others to know that somehow they are helping and supporting a charity or certain organization. They do it for different reasons. Sometimes they just want others to know that they really are helping and want also others to follow what they are doing. Some just want to gain fame and more acknowledgment. As long that a help was been extended or donated I really don't care much about the intention of the giver. The most important thing is the help given that's whats count the more. But help is much better if done silently and heartily.

oh so I am still waiting on your topic resolution: "Lets talk about charity and help", will look forward to that actual discussion.

No one's ever managed to explain to me why it's wrong to feel good about doing a good deed. If feeling good about doing it means more people do it, then go right ahead and feel good about it.

Dear vine, please at least learn to write the Bible correctly. If you are not sure or you don't know, better ask someone or don't write it at all. The passage you mentioned is from the Gospel of Matthew 6:3 "But when thou doest alms,let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:" (KJV) It means that you should not be proud of what you did and you should not keep it in your heart, just forget it. Don't do it for rewards, God will remember and reward you. And about writing names on their charity works or donations, i think it is not a true charity but it is just a work done for their remembrance of their name. It is something like erecting ones own statue but the statue is benefitted by someone else too.

In this we agree completely, let not your left hand, know what your right hand is doing. Do it just for the good of it, and tell as few people as possible. With appreciation.