Shake the Dust From Your Sandals

Many people are poor because of their conditions - for them I have compassion.
Others suffer because they never knew any better - even on these I have mercy.
But there are those who choose to lead the lives they lead - to these I shake the dust from my feet.
These are they who have been told, shown, helped and given to to the point where they have no need to do anything for themselves.

Many people imagine that the answer to poverty is 'money'.
But this is far from the truth.
Even if the poor are given large sums of money, many would later be worse off for the gift.
Most don't have the knowledge or character to do anything good with such resources.

Many would still focus more on status than they would on responsibility.
Most would be so concerned with impressing others that they would soon be broke again... but with a new sense of entitlement.

Christ understood this.
Even with the ability to call gold coins from the bottom of the sea in the mouth of a fish - he never made the poor rich.
Instead he laid the groundwork for wealth. (Humility)
He tried to teach the masses the character required to properly manage wealth.
He tried to teach the masses the ideology required to protect wealth. (taking care of others as they would themselves.)
He tried to lead by example by working as a tek?n (builder).

I haven't lost all compassion for those with less but I'm getting pretty close.
Every time I help someone, they revert back to their old ways.
Even when they acquire better goods, they have no idea of how to maintain them.
Sure, I'll help anyone.
But they have to at least be trying to do better for themselves.