Teaching people to fish is better than feeding them one

There is an old saying that says, if you feed a man a fish, he will eat for a day, but teach him how to fish and he can eat everyday. The same can be considered the truth when it comes to the word of God. As Christians, we are big on feeding folks fish but not so great on teaching them how to fish for themselves. What I mean is that we are quick to give them a verse or an encouraging word, but that’s only a temporary fix. We will tell people that we will pray for them but how often do we show them how to go through the bible themselves? How often do we get with them and pray with them out loud and show them how easy it can be to talk to God? How often do we show them how they too can have a personal relationship with Him? The answer I am sad to say, is not too often. It is easier to give it lip service or to drop a nugget of information on them and walk away feeling good about ourselves for sharing our faith. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that what you are doing is wrong, its not. Share your faith whenever you can wherever you can. What I am saying though is that we have to transform our thinking from trying to feed one another every once in a while to getting those around us to where they can feed themselves spiritually daily. You can not always be there to meet with someone in need, but you can give them everything they need to be able to get to the one that can. Learn to teach those around you to fish for their selves. That way no one will have to go without!