While the Bible encourages a spirit of radical generosity and compassion, it also provides profound wisdom on stewardship—the idea that our time, money, and energy are resources we must manage wisely.
In some specific instances, the Scriptures suggest that “helping” someone can actually interfere with their personal growth, God’s discipline, or the safety of the community. Here is an article exploring eight types of people the Bible cautions against enabling.
8 People God Doesn’t Want You to Help: Biblical Wisdom on Boundaries
We often think of “Christian charity” as a “yes” to every request. However, the Bible is a book of balance. Just as there is a time to embrace, there is a time to refrain. If our help prevents someone from experiencing the consequences of their actions or allows them to continue in sin, we may be “enabling” rather than “helping.”
Here are eight categories of people the Bible suggests we should approach with extreme caution or firm boundaries.
1. The Able-Bodied Who Refuse to Work
The Bible is clear about supporting the vulnerable (widows, orphans, and the disabled), but it takes a hard line on those who choose laziness over responsibility.
The Scripture: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) The Lesson: Providing for someone who is capable but unwilling to work can rob them of the dignity of labor and the necessity of growth.
2. The “Mocker” or Scornful
Some people do not want help; they want an audience or a target. A mocker is someone who treats wisdom with contempt and refuses to be corrected.
The Scripture: “Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8) The Lesson: Investing your emotional energy into someone who mocks your values or advice is often a waste of the “pearls” God has given you.
3. Those Who Create Constant Dissension
The Bible warns against people who thrive on drama, gossip, and splitting communities apart. After a certain point, “helping” them through dialogue becomes counterproductive.
The Scripture: “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” (Titus 3:10) The Lesson: Protecting the peace of the many outweighs the desire to endlessly appease one person who chooses conflict.
4. The “Fool” Who Refuses to Learn
In the Book of Proverbs, a “fool” isn’t someone with low intelligence, but someone who lacks moral clarity and refuses to change their ways despite repeated failure.
The Scripture: “Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.” (Proverbs 23:9) The Lesson: Constantly “bailing out” a person who repeats the same destructive patterns without a heart for change is simply subsidizing their next mistake.
5. The Angry and Hot-Tempered
Trying to “fix” or constantly soothe someone with an explosive temper can be dangerous and futile.
The Scripture: “A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again.” (Proverbs 19:19) The Lesson: If you always step in to fix the messes caused by someone’s rage, they never learn the self-control required to change.
6. The Parasitic “False Brother”
Paul warns against those who claim to be part of the faith but live in blatant, unrepentant sin while expecting the benefits of the community.
The Scripture: “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler.” (1 Corinthians 5:11) The Lesson: Sometimes, the most “helpful” thing you can do is withdraw fellowship so the person realizes the weight of their choices.
7. Those Who Lead You Away from God
If “helping” someone requires you to compromise your own integrity, participate in sin, or walk away from your faith, the Bible advises a sharp exit.
The Scripture: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” (1 Corinthians 15:33) The Lesson: Your first responsibility is your walk with God. You cannot pull someone out of a pit if they are pulling you into it.
8. The Person Under God’s Discipline
This is perhaps the hardest to discern. Sometimes, God allows people to hit “rock bottom” so they will look up. When we step in prematurely, we might be interfering with a divine lesson.
The Scripture: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Psalm 119:71) The Lesson: If we provide a “safety net” that God has removed, we may be delaying that person’s true repentance.
Conclusion: Help with Discernment
The goal of Christian help is restoration, not just temporary relief. Before you give your money, your time, or your heart, ask: “Is this help actually making them more like Christ, or is it just making it easier for them to stay the way they are?”
True love sometimes says “No.”
