When Helping Hurts With Brian Fikkert

Show Notes

Christians are called to help the poor and studies consistently show that we’re generous people, compared to the whole. But does that generosity always mean we’re helping?  We’ll talk with Brian Fikkert about that on this Faith and Finance. 

• Brian Fikkert is Professor of Economics and Community Development and the Founder and President of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College.
• He’s also coauthor of the best-selling book When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor
• It’s obvious that money alone doesn’t solve the problem of poverty. It’s more complex than that. We need to change our thinking about poverty.
• A NEW PARADIGM
• Many of us think of the human being as fundamentally a physical creature. And so we think if we pour in more resources, the person will be better off, and then many of us as Christians think of a person as a kind of a body that contains a soul. 
• But what the Bible actually teaches is that the human being is a highly integrated Body, Soul relational creature. We are hard-wired for relationships with God, with ourselves, with others, and with the rest of creation. Once we think of people in that way, we realize that we're going to have to work with people in highly relational ways, because that's how they're wired.
• DIFFERENT KINDS OF POVERTY
• One chapter in Brian’s book says that not all poverty is created equal. There are actually different kinds of poverty. On today’s program, he explains the different types of poverty and the importance of distinguishing between situations where relief is appropriate, and when it's more appropriate to help people use their own God-given talents and steward their own gifts and resources. 
• OVERSEAS GIFTS
• Brian also discusses the best ways to help people through missions and other organizations that reach people far from home with the Gospel and material assistance. 
• He notes that the best form of assistance is usually a form that helps people become more self-sufficient, if you will (though we are all dependent on God). Things like goats and chickens that can help people to gather their own food and/or earn income can be wonderful ways to help. 
• The Chalmer’s Center’s website is loaded with resources to help you steward your financial resources both at home and abroad. Learn more at chalmers.org.

• How do you determine if a refund offered by the IRS for overpayment is legitimate and not a scam?
• What’s the best way to address a large IRS debt? Should you set up a payment arrangement with the IRS or try to get a loan elsewhere to pay off the tax debt? 
• How do you figure out if you should keep a house and rent it out or just sell it outright?