How do you distinguish the needy from the wanters?

Answer:

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

This verse is not directing Christians to take care of every orphan and widow. It says to see to the needs of orphans and widows in their trouble. The Greek word thlipsis means affliction, anguish, burden, persecution, or trouble. It is not a trouble of their own making, but trouble that comes upon them because they are vulnerable.

"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need" (Ephesians 4:28).

Notice that "need" is not the same as "wants." In Greek, the word "need" carries the shade of meaning implying destitution. That one person has less than myself does not mean he is destitute.

"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread" (II Thessalonians 3:10-12).

Troubles can come upon people despite their best efforts. But as you noted, some people invite trouble through their lack of effort. The later are told they must work, the former is helped to get past the difficult days.

You can see this in John 6. When people stayed late into the day in a deserted region to have Jesus heal their sick and to listen to his teachings, Jesus had compassion on them (Mark 6:35; Matthew 14:14). He fed those who came so far. But when some of those same people started following Jesus asking for more free food, Jesus had a different answer. "Jesus answered them and said, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him'" (John 6:26-27). Jesus refused to feed them, and they eventually went away in disgust.

Another example is found in the rules given to churches regarding which widows the church had responsibility for. "Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully" (I Timothy 5:9-14). The church was only responsible for older widows who had no family to care for them (I Timothy 5:16) and who lived a godly life. The younger widows are specifically told to get married because if they were supported by the church they would learn to be idle.

Laziness is a sin, and neither Christians nor the church is in the business of promoting sin. "The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and does not spare" (Proverbs 21:25-26). This isn't saying that the righteous gives to the lazy but that while the lazy never thinks he has enough, the righteous have more than enough for himself and to help those who are truly in need.

In distinguishing the lazy from the truly needy, I use several criteria:

• Is there a rush? Almost universally the bums out there try to get people to shell out money fast. It's always an emergency. But that is because it limits double-checking whether you are being told the truth or not. When someone gives me the hard sale, red flags go up. Most problems don't have to be solved today. They got by so far, one more day rarely won't be a burden.
• It the need is real, then there should be ways to verify it. When people call the building asking for handouts, I ask them what church they attend. I then call the church and ask for verification. You would be surprised how many won't give me a congregation and the list is endless for why they don't attend services. I've learned the hard way over the years -- no verification means no help, no matter how much I sympathize with them.
• Is the problem due to the person's fault or is it out of their hands? In the former, I will make sure they survive the immediate problem, but then I work with them to learn not to repeat the mistakes.
• Handle the problem directly, not indirectly. Instead of giving someone cash for a problem, pay it directly so you know the money is being spent where it is needed. If someone calls saying they are in need of food, go buy the food to give to them.