What's the Point?

The goal behind Medical Capacity Building and my role as Course Manager is to train medical personnel how to take care of themselves medically.  While we run courses on everything from obstetrics to anesthesiology to suturing and how to help an infant born in physical distress there are other Mercy Ships courses teaching growing crops organically, nutritional programs for children, safe construction and even how to take care of the dying.  If our jobs are successful, Mercy Ships operating rooms and hospitals could be empty!

What happens when people continually receive money, a service, a toy at the check out lane?

A discussion ensued regarding a book called When Giving Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. 

How can anyone say "no" to pleas for help especially when you see it first hand and know they really, truly need help! But has the dependency on the giver caused more harm than good when it reinforces begging as their most successful means for a source of income?

The policy of Mercy Ships is to not give spare change to the crippled beggar on the street. It is counter intuitive to what we are trying to accomplish. Yet, what about this man I saw outside a local hospital yesterday, sprawled out in the street with the only muscle seeming to work was the outstretched arm, palm up begging for coins? They CAN'T work! Isn't at least this OK?

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever yo have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaved; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.'"                   
     Mark 10:21

"For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."      
     John 12:8

Many short-term missionaries and visitors to countries like Guinea feel that tug and give money. Giving generously! And then the recipient is rewarded for begging. It has supplied their needs in the past, it surely is a means to an end.

What do you think? I welcome comments using this blog as forum.