BE CHARITABLE
Of course men should be charitable, because it is a duty and a pleasure.
But even as a matter of policy, if you possess no higher incentive, you
will find that the liberal man will command patronage, while the sordid,
uncharitable miser will be avoided.
Solomon says: "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is
that withholdeth more than meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Of course the
only true charity is that which is from the heart.
The best kind of charity is to help those who are willing to help
themselves. Promiscuous almsgiving, without inquiring into the worthiness
of the applicant, is bad in every sense. But to search out and quietly
assist those who are struggling for themselves, is the kind that
"scattereth and yet increaseth." But don't fall into the idea that some
persons practice, of giving a prayer instead of a potato, and a
benediction instead of bread, to the hungry. It is easier to make
Christians with full stomachs than empty.