Hand Outs

500 Kwacha = $1.52

On one week’s shopping trip in Blantyre, we arrived at the meat store 15 minutes before it opened. While we waited in the truck, we noticed a very nice car parked at a ramp in front of the store.  There was a small Malawian flag perched on the front left side of the hood.

Becky :  Who do you think that is for?  It’s a very nice car.
(as a couple of nicely dressed people put things in the car)

Jonathan: It’s probably the owner of the store.

Becky:  No, I think it’s someone with the government.

A man dressed in fine Muslim clothes came out to the car and people started flocking to him, running from all over the parking lot and reaching to him.

Becky: What’s going on?

Jonathan:  Maybe it’s a Muslim giving alms.

Becky:  Really?  No…

The man slipped into the car and was driven away.  The crowd dispersed, everyone smiling and some laughing at the spectacle of what just happened.  As one man came to his car parked next to us I addressed him from the truck window:

Becky:  What just happened there?!?!

Man: That was —–.  He owns the store (chain) and is a minister of Parliament.

Becky:  Oh…we were both right!

Man:  He was giving out money — 500’s.  It’s not good, though.  Handouts kill people.  They get lazy and can’t do anything for themselves.  Why does he do that?  If he has that much money, why doesn’t he just hire more people?

Well, there we heard it straight from a Malawian!  “Handouts kill people.”  What a powerful statement.  Each time someone begs for food or money we have a decision to make.  Sometimes we give.  Sometimes we don’t.  Sometimes we feel like we’ve been taken advantage of.  Sometimes we feel regret and selfishness.

We don’t have the answers to the problem of poverty or unemployment.  Undoubtedly at times we are part of the problem, even unknowingly.  But we are challenged because Jesus did not directly teach on handouts.  In fact, He gave some himself!  When I felt bad after giving to a beggar at our gate, Jonathan said “I’d rather err on the side of generosity than stinginess.  Jesus said to forgive 70×70…are we to give 70×70 as well?”  Where’s the line?  What’s the balance?  These are difficult questions that have become almost daily for us.

I’m sure we haven’t and won’t respond to each person and situation perfectly, but we pray that God’s light and love will shine through us and that His name will be honored by our actions and inaction…words and silence…Lord, give us the wisdom we need in each moment and the courage to obey.