I am so glad to hear you... er, to see you say that Galatea! I know some people who would love to have your phone number so they can call and ask you to do them a favor... and another, and another, and another, for as long as you live.
They need YOUR phone number because they already wore MY phone number out, as well as every other phone number they could get hold of.
I'm going to have to disagree with you though, for two reasons: Logistics and greed. Basically, if you never turn anybody down you soon get snowed under by greedy people. This renders you incapable of helping the people who truly need help, because all your resources are spent helping everybody who claims to be in need but is really just a professional needy person. The goal is to help those who are really in need, so you have to use a bit of discernment to determine who is really in need.
I heard a sermon once that changed my life.
The pastor said, "You are not called to everybody, and if you think you are, you're going to burn yourself out."
I admire people who believe they are called to the masses and can help everyone. I've tried to live that life before and I know I can't do it, but I still give kudos to anyone who believes they can.
I have two married friends, "Kristen" and "Ryan", who have worked in ministry all their lives and aren't even 40 years old. They're the kind of people who could convince you to follow them straight through hell because of how much they believe in the power of God and the fact that God has called them to help the poor.
I've gone with them on a couple of their adventures, including to a couple of soup kitchens. I have to admit, though, that I was becoming extremely irritated by the patrons who complained about everything--we had chicken, and someone was demanding ribs. We had bread--and another one wanted to know why we didn't have rolls. Everything was about what we should or shouldn't have and why couldn't they have what they wanted. For Pete's sake... This was a soup kitchen, not a James Beard-level restaurant.
Kristen told me that she had seen this continuously over the years, and that many of the people who came to these places didn't have jobs because they treated their jobs the same way--they were entitled to everything, no one was paying them what they were worth, and they were too good to work for anyone--and even though they found themselves homeless, it did nothing to budge their attitudes.
I would like to please ask that no one would twist what I am saying, because I am NOT saying there aren't legitimate needs out there. But I AM saying there sure were a lot of people who felt they were literally owed the world on a platter.
But that never stops Kristen and Ryan, and they're in the process of working in the midst of a major inner city area because they have a strong heart to reach out to drug addicts--that's where God has placed their hearts. However, they are also the parents of small children, and so they're trying to balance their dream of serving a population so many would give up on while keeping their young family safe.
I found my experience at the soup kitchen to be quite eye-opening into my own flaws, because I was very troubled by my reaction. I asked God that night, "WHY did I have so little compassion on those people? What's wrong with me, and what is it You're wanting to fix in my heart?"
And then God reminded me of the people I DID have compassion on--the guy who was faithfully washing dishes, and the mixed-race girl who was wiping down tables and working so hard (people of mixed race in that area are generally treated very poorly.) I wanted so much to give them extra food, but I wasn't allowed to do so. My heart went out to them because of how diligently and earnestly they were working.
I believe that God told me, "You didn't go there for the masses of people, Seoul. You went there for Kristen and Ryan, because those are the ones I've given you a heart for--the people who take care of other people."
That single event changed my life, because I know now that one of my callings is to other workers. Yes, of course I am to try to help most anyone God puts in my path, but I knew from that experience how to better spend my resources and energy.
If I have an hour to listen and $10 in my pocket to give someone, unless God tells me otherwise, I'm going to give it to the workers--the teachers, the staff, the volunteers, the hosts, the organizers, the people behind the sound booth no one sees, the janitors--because I've learned that my endurance is 10 times greater with the ones who serve others.
I actually think it's pretty cool that God would call some people to take care of the people who take care of other people, and I know that for me, serving that population is what I feel most at peace with, and that also helps me be more efficient with what I do have to give.