“Which is better? Give a man a fish, or teach him to fish.” What about lending him money to buy a fishing rod or hiring him to work on your fishing boat? Or, you might offer to sell his fish in your market (for a commission, of course).

Clearly the old saying implies it is better to teach a man to fish. I’ll build on that and assert it is better to give a man (or woman) the means to make a living. Lend money, invest in a business, hire someone to do a job – all are the basis for people to be self-supporting.

I make donations to the local food banks and I feel good about doing that. But I have deeper respect for the business man or woman who puts their energy and financial wellbeing into growing a business that puts others to work.