How do we give without harming someone? Or contributing to poverty?

How do we give without harming someone? Or contributing to poverty?

Answer: Engage the person and give the Gospel.

“You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”  -- Leviticus 19:15

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” – Colossians 1:18,29

When we address people in need, are we addressing a symptom or are we addressing and seeking justice for the person? The Kingdom of God engages our heart. The Gospel exposes our heart. It challenges us. It brings us from the kingdom of this world into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not satisfied at just casually addressing symptoms; it fights for justice and addresses the real needs of a person. It is honest with who we are. And meets our needs when we are not who we should be. When we address people, we are not addressing a social condition, we are engaging in the life of someone. 

We must be careful in our interactions with the poor that we don't treat them any differently than any other group of men. We must stand for justice. Justice is a part of the Kingdom of God. We should not be easier or harder on them than we would be with others. We should challenge them just as we would challenge others. And it’s ok to be honest about the situation. Justice pursues what is right and what is best, even if it is uncomfortable. The Gospel is quick to address the sin in our own hearts and as we preach the Gospel it will address the sin in others and expose our need for mercy, grace, and Jesus. The scripture says that we are not to show partiality to the poor, and we should not fear this. We engage mankind in the love, patience, gentleness, long suffering, meekness, and strength and power that the Gospel has to offer.
 
God has called us to engage all mankind with the Gospel of Christ. How we decide to engage a person should be ruled by the Gospel. The Gospel will address the underlying issues that cause poverty, whether it is sin or just circumstances. And, yes, even the righteous can fall into poverty. Either case the Gospel is ultimate in our interactions with all men. If the Gospel is ultimate in our engagement with people, we will be able to give and love extravagantly, without harm.