Charity

[Russell Smith]

Charity is a great thing. Always assist the most rapid perfecting…

Yet, I know I can not extend charity to all.

So, when do I… and how often?

I will share one other concept (whether it be right or wrong), it is a concept that makes good sense to me.

Be more inclined to help those who deserves it, rather than those who needs it.

When I first heard this I said, "Wow! Tough call. This guy really needs my help. Whereas this guy deserves it. Wouldn’t that be selective charity and require some internal considering"? At first, this idea was hard to comprehend. But I made an effort to.

When I finally understood that I was not forbidden from helping someone… but, with this concept, I would have a better guide for knowing when to apply "the ability to" part of the aphorism.

There are two guys: one is making observable efforts to climb over an obstacle; the other is not. I am ‘now’ more inclined to help the former.

What really helped me understand this idea was the Parable of the Talents:

Matthew 25:14-30 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Talents

14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what isyours.’

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

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Someone says, "Why give it to the guy who has 10? It seems so unfair". Answer, "Because he will know what to do with it. He will make an effort to turn it in to two, into four, into more. Then he, himself, may remember the extended hand that reached down for him… and so value it, that he is inclined to extend his own hand down to someone else.

Thus, I am inclined to help those who make efforts rather than those who do not…

I guess it’s kind of like the TI-DO interval. A man is trying hard to get over the wall? I reach down my hand and help him over. He receives more from my generosity than the guy whom I stumbled upon and tried to carry over the wall.

When the Higher said to me, "Give these Master Exercises only to students who memorize 1,001 words", I understood.

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