We have to be careful with our thought processes. Often times the word ‘deserve’ is used right before we do ‘stupid’. Often the word ‘deserve’ is used as a justification to do something we know isn’t quite right. We should be careful when we’re thinking, “they deserve …”
Dependence
If we’re not thinking things through, “they deserve …” can precede putting someone in an unsustainable situation. For example, we might think poor people deserve a car to get around in. But if these low income people can’t afford the upkeep on the car, they are in an unsustainable situation, and they will lose the car.
The same is true when we think that everyone deserves to own a house. People who can’t afford the payments, but are given a loan anyway, are destined for foreclosure and a lot of heartache.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to just poor people. Even upper class folks can fall into this situation where family feels like their kids or grand kids deserve to go to private school. Many folks living high income lifestyles end up living on the subsidies of parents or other relatives.
Putting people in an unsustainable situation creates dependence. These folks become dependent on us. Being dependent like this ins’t a thriving life. Rather, over time, this type of living creates feelings of inadequacy and inability. The dependent start to feel like they are incapable, and this creates a sort of addiction to the benevolence of others.
Our Calling
If our calling is to help the underdogs of society, we need to be watchful that we’re not just creating dependence or disappointment or worse. We think they deserve a house, but instead we gave them a foreclosure. They really didn’t deserve that kind of break today. We thought we would give them food until they got back on their feet, but instead we fed them for a lifetime.
We should seek sustainable solutions that ultimately produce real change. Maybe that family can’t afford a house right now. So, we should help them get what they can afford or help them to afford more. Real solutions need to address root causes, not just the symptoms we see.
What about you? When did you help someone in a way that made a real difference and you’re proud of it?
