Serving the poor and the needy

Lots of thoughts lately on how much and how to serve the poor and the needy. Christene Gutierrez is a recent convert in our ward. I have had trouble with her situation because I didn't think she was ready to be baptized. She still gets mad at us or at the church if we can't help her with something...like pick her up from the emergency room or get her groceries or whatever. She isn't self-reliant.

But I know I should serve others, especially the poor and the needy. And like Mosiah 4 says, I shouldn't condemn someone and say, "They brought it upon themselves." But I also feel wrong about helping her all the time with everything she needs. Kiley and I have been struggling with it. And so I've been studying about it, and now I need to start praying about it so that Heavenly Father can teach me about true, Christlike service. A few (scattered) thoughts:

• When we see how much in need we are, it's easier to help others. "Are we not all beggars?" I need Christ and Heavenly Father so much. So realizing this should help me be more eager to help others as well.
• When we retain in remembrance how merciful the Savior has been to us, we "will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peacably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due" (Mosiah 4:13). I don't want to injure Christine, I want to live peacably with her, and I want to give her what is her due. How do I know what is her due?
• Vs. 16 through 19 says that I can't judge another and say they have brought it upon themselves. But what if it is true? Well, I don't know if it is true. There are probably lots of details that I am unaware of. Only Heavenly Father knows all things and has the right to judge each situation, including Christine's. And my not judging her doesn't mean I will do everything she asks or give her everything she needs. Why? Because I can't afford that. And because it could enable her. And because Heavenly Father doesn't expect that of me.
• In condemning another, I am bringing condemnation unto myself. Don't I sin? Don't I rely on Heavenly Father and the Savior for forgiveness? They could withhold forgiveness from me if They wanted to.
• But I must use righteous judgment. 
• He who says the following is guiltless: "I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give" (v. 24). Am I like that? If I had more I would give more? I think so, but I also don't know if that is an excuse. 
• By serving others, I retain a remission of my sins. 
• V. 28 says that if we borrow anything, we should return the thing we borrowed. Otherwise we are sinning. So this principle shows accountability. We need to pay back what we use and borrow.
• On another similar note, D&C 58:26-32 talk about how we shouldn't be compelled in all things. And also that we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of our own free will. That we are AGENTS unto ourselves, and that we will surely be rewarded for the good things we do. Hasn't Heavenly Father proven Himself? And shown us that He keeps His promises? Yes! So we should try to do all we can on our own, relying on God. And other people should be doing this as well, including Christine.

So what I am learning from all this is that I need to give what I can give. I need to not judge others for the situation they are in. I need to continuously repent so that I can stay humble and remember how much I rely on the Lord. I need to use the Spirit and righteous judgment to know how much and when and to whom I can give.

• Psalms 25:9 says, "The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." So, I need to be humble. Maybe I don't understand things. Maybe I don't need to know or be an expert on how to treat the poor and needy. But I do need to be meek and humble and acknowledge that I just don't know, and that Heavenly Father does and that He will teach me.