3 Types of People That You Shouldn't Help

(photo: pixabay.com)
By Mariel LeisterAugust 3rd, 2017

Christians have a stereotyped image of Good Samaritans all around. It's assumed that we always have to help those in need, but such belief is unbiblical. We're commanded to love one another, yes, but we're not instructed to become fools for the sake of charity. Wisdom is something that God expects us to have, and the Bible even encourages that if we don't have it, we should just ask the Lord for it and He'll give us the wisdom that we need.

When Jesus said, "Don't give what is holy to the dogs or throw your pearls to pigs," He was telling us not to be careless in our giving whether it's advice or materially because, "they will trample them and then tear you to pieces (Matt. 9:6)."

Not everyone who asks for help should be helped. Quite harshly, Jesus refers to such people as dogs and pigs; and why? Because dogs eat up their own vomit and pigs make no distinction between a marble flooring and mud.

There are three types of people who fit this category, and we should be mindful not to waste time on them.

1. People who knowingly disobey the Word of God

All the instruction in life that we'll ever need is in the Bible. If a person comes to you asking for relationship advice but openly refuses to "love his enemies," then nothing you say will convince that person to change. Disobedience is also called rebellion and rebels follow their own ways regardless of what the established rules are. You can give the best instruction you can possibly get out of yourself but such people are just not worth the time. If you're coming out of the Bible, they won't listen to you anyway.

2. People who argue with the Word of God

Some people think they know the Bible more than God knows it. Some people have too much religion and too much theology that everything in the Bible is a debate topic to them, and they turn a simple verse into something that's totally out of line with what it really means. Most of the people like this don't even know the Bible as well as they sound like. "Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant," Paul says in the Amplified version of 1 Corinthians 8:1.

In Paul's letter to Timothy, he instructs, "Reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling (2 Tim. 2:23)." And again, Paul gives Titus a similar command saying, "Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the Law, because these things are pointless and worthless." And here's another verse to prove the point, "Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales. Instead train yourself to be godly (1 Tim. 4:7)."

And finally,

3. People who are in direct rebellion against God

This is a more serious case compared to the first two points. See, the first two are cases still offer hope granted that such people repent, but direct rebellion is unforgivable.

Direct rebellion against the Lord causes a person to be in condemnation. Meaning, this is a hopeless case. There's no saving such person. These are the type of people whom God had already pronounced judgement on, and no prayer can save them any longer. Isaiah 63:10 says this, "But they rebelled against Him and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He became their enemy and fought against them." Korah, Dathan and Abiram are perfect examples of rebels in the Bible, and before they were judged, Moses had everyone else stay away from them. It's sensible to stay away from rebels because in hanging around such people, we put ourselves in danger, too. If you want to be with such, ask yourself this, "Am I willing to go to hell for this person?" If not, then stay away and don't give 'em your pearls.

Don't think that God didn't do anything to spare them. God is merciful and compassionate and He will go through endless lengths to help a person who is willing to be helped. Keyword, willing. All three points have one thing in common: unwillingness to be helped. They resist God, so God will resist them. How you are with God is how God will be with you.

If people refuse help from the Lord, they'll refuse help from us. God's mercy is new every morning but He's not a fool. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked (Gal. 6:7).

Consider these words, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

So, you see, we can't receive everyone. If they want help, they must first be willing to be helped, and that's the time when we can reach out to them.

related articles
LATEST FROM Opinion