Proverbs 3:27-28

"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you."

I find in this proverb two little-recognized guidelines for the application of help. First, help is to be directed toward "those who deserve it." This is by-and-large the failure of a welfare state mentality. No distinction is made between those who try and fail and those who do not try at all. Some people, due to disabilities (physical or otherwise), are hindered at meeting their needs in full. Others, due to laziness, would rather be provided for. The former are deserving of our care and generosity. The latter are deserving of an empty belly, so as to give them the motivation they need to work hard.

The second guideline is that help is to be extended "when it is in your power to act." There's a double edged sword to this matter. On the one hand, there is no moral imperative to help when doing so brings hardship to the helper. There will always be more needs that we have the ability to fulfill, and this is good, or else all helping would be done by just a few. The fact that we all have limits forces (or at least obligates) others to step up. When it is in your power to help, be helpful. When it's not, be prayerful. On the other hand, there is no time like the present to show compassion. A heart of compassion can be restricted by too much concern over the future. You may not have the ability to help later, but you have the ability now, so help now. You may not even be alive tomorrow. So Solomon adds verse 28, that we who tend toward excess caution realize that if you delay, you will always have reason to delay further.

All this has been applied to charitable giving, but other forms of "good" may also be within your power. You may need to see that someone gets justice. You may know a mother or family who needs your assistance with child care or home/auto repair. Maybe a friend needs tutoring, or encouragement, or a loving but firm rebuke. We all have opportunities to do good toward deserving people. The challenge is to do so in a timely manner.