Peddling Poverty to Ignite Charity?

During Hurricane Florence my wife and I went to Waffle House to have breakfast. We overheard a woman saying she had driven all night from Charleston, because of the storm. Despite our budget, we didn't hesitate to offer to pay for her breakfast ($23). I'm sure she benefited from me not overhearing the price before we made the gesture. It didn't matter. Her destitution compelled our sympathy. It's natural to feel more charitable when presented with despair.

As inner-city church planters we are surrounded by perpetual despair, but we do not care to peddle poverty to ignite charity. 
If a person is legally poor, is it necessary for them to look and act destitute for donations? If so, who does that really benefit? And, sympathy only soothes the sympathizer.

Without money and resources to make ministry ends meet, we are both blessed and convicted to live, preach and model the words of Apostle Paul:



"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

We Are Thankful, not braggadocios. For what is there for us to brag about other than Jesus and His provisions? God continues to miraculously supply our daily needs from unknown places and unexpected sources.


Apostle John says in John 12:8a "You will always have the poor among you...". Yet, we are thankful, because God is faithful and will always command His more wealthy to be a blessing to those less fortunate.

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11