Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 2
Open Hands wants the poor helped “without looking at the materially rich person as the God in their lives”; where have you seen Christian giving subtly reposition the giver into a savior-role, and what would it look like for God to remain the obvious Provider while the human giver is still genuinely honored?
Another way to ask: Open Hands says we should help the poor without treating rich people like they are “god” to them. Where have you seen giving make the giver look like a savior, and how can God stay the clear Provider while the giver is still appreciated?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The transcript suggests the savior-role happens when aid trains the receiver’s eyes to look “across to the giver” for ongoing rescue rather than “up…to the Lord.” God remains the obvious Provider when giving is shaped to preserve dignity, avoid dependency, and still allow gratitude without creating a new “god” relationship.
- He asks: “How can we help this materially poor person rise up without looking at the materially rich person as the God in their lives?”
- Open Hands aims at giving (or helping) in a way that “raises them in their dignity,” with eyes “to look up and to the Lord and not across to the giver.”
- He adds an important balance: helping them look to the Lord while “still enabling them to be grateful to the giver.”
- He warns how repeated handouts shift the relationship: after many gifts the receiver can become “entitled” and then “develop bitterness” when giving stops.