Reverse Compassion

I was thinking the other night about a comment that I had read regarding Christians and their lack of compassion for the poor and downtrodden and it made me think.
It made me think about love and the different aspects of it and can love be used in a reverse manner that appears to be love but really isn’t love at all?
When I look at the poor and downtrodden I can see two specific large groups that should be identified. One being the physically disadvantages either through illness or injury and the other is the socially disadvantaged that through actions on their own part, whether conscious or not, have put them in a disadvantaged position. Plainly said, the poorly educated population that decided early on that education was not a goal in their life.
Ok, so what am I getting at?
The comment made painted Christians as people that profess their faith but do not show it through their actions to the poor and downtrodden and I think the statement at first blush might look correct but is flawed when you look at it. I will not take the time here to list the many religious organizations that serve the poor daily.
I think it is safe to say that the mainstream Christian and also mankind in general makes a valiant attempt to assist those in need especially those that cannot take care of themselves because of some unfortunate circumstance in their life.
I also think that there is an attempt to assist even the socially disadvantaged in some manner but I do agree that it is not as pronounced as services to the physically disadvantaged group.
But I see the two groups as being significantly different in manner and temperament and therein lies the rub.
The Bible has several passages about work being a staple in a person’s life and that we are not to be slothful. Now work comes in many different forms and the stay-at-home mom works plenty hard to maintain the family unit but there can be a vast difference to the working poor that refuse to work or refuse to be trained to go to work.
There is a large segment of our population that has lived in the entitlement framework of our society and they like it. They feel, I am sure for whatever reason, that they are to be taken care of and maintained in some manner that suits them. I will fully admit that the entitled poor don’t seem to be demanding a mansion to live in so they seem content in their current living conditions.
So get to the point already…
Love of the poor and downtrodden is not giving them anything they want any more than you would do for your own child. As parents haven’t we taught our children to expect reward from work? If we expect it from them then how can we expect less from the ones that can work but refuse to work because welfare is easier?
Coupled now with a national health plan that will also entitle them at taxpayer expense; aren’t we loving them in the wrong direction. Shouldn’t we be coaxing them to work and earn the benefits that are there for all of us?
I understand the liberal bent on social caring for all poor but isn’t this being painted with a broad brush when a smaller one might make us look at the details a little more closely?
Maybe then even the non-believer might see that Christians, although not perfect by any means, are not heartless because they do not agree to reward laziness.
Could there be a meeting of the minds?