| The Ministry of Comfort |
Chapter 21 |
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In the matter of helping with money, there is special discouragement. There are persons who are ready always to assist others in time of need. But perhaps no other form of kindness proves quite so unsatisfactory as this. In the fewest cases do gifts of money bring back a return of gratitude. The acceptance of such help seems to have a sinister influence upon the feelings. Not many retain afterward as close friends those to whom they have given financial assistance. Many good men who begin dispensing money with a free hand, truly interested in other’s troubles and eager to assist them, meet with such discouragement in the effect of their gifts upon those who receive them, that the fountains of their charity are at last dried up. Not only are they led to decline to give further help to those who have proved so ungrateful, but, as a consequence, they harden themselves against all such appeals for help in the future. As a result, when really worthy objects of benevolence are presented to them, there is no answer of sympathy.
These are suggestions of things which discourage kindness and check the flow of benevolence. In ancient times in the East a common practice among tribes at war was to fill up each other’s wells. Every well thus rendered useless was a public blessing destroyed. Like crime against humanity is it when a well of kindness in a heart is stopped. The world’s need and sorrow are the losers. The thirsty come to drink where before their want had been satisfied, and are disappointed.
But the most serious consequence is in the harm which is done to the persons themselves whose love and compassion are thus restrained. One of the great problems of Christian living is to keep the heart gentle and sweet amid all the world’s trying experiences. Nothing worse could happen to any one than that he should become cold toward human suffering, or bitter toward human infirmity and failure.
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