Resource Provider

I was reading something the other day, and I guess it impressed me because it is right up my alley.  It is not the sort of thing that takes a rocket scientist to work out.  I am right into volunteering.  It is not something I force, it is just something that I do.  It sort of comes naturally.  I am definitely not one to jump in and do things without reason, but if there are not enough to do what needs to be done, I will do it.  It is just the way I am.
I was reading about volunteering the other day and I remember distinctly reading “be a resource provider.”  I actually do like that a lot.  The reason is, it seems so many have stuff that they need, but often it is seen as just one of many things.  I am firmly of the belief that if something is in my power to do and I feel to do it, then just do it.
I will never subscribe to the thought that I use all my resources and be left with nothing to help out.  To me that is like a flame burning brightly and briefly and then going out.  I had a friend that came by some brass, and so shouted a pile of people to dinner.  They regretted it because at the end of it they were out of brass and could not assist anyone else.
I do think it is sometimes right to assist like that, but it seems so often people race in to do something they come to rightly regret later on.  Actions are built on desires rather than wisdom.
It is unfortunate as the motivation is good, but it seems to me it can be misdirected.  A desire to help is noble, but not all desires to help are right for me.  As is said “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” (though if they are like me, there is a lot of going without between fish).
It is a bit of a dilemma as the desire to help can be very strong.  In some it is not.  It seems to me it is just a matter of the way we are all built.  My philosophy is if it is something I would like for me then the best way to receive it is to give it.  That sort of thinking may not be my motivation, but that outcome seems to be a consequence.
A mate of mine provided a heap of stuff and wondered why the recipient was not more appreciative.  To me it was a case of providing what they thought was a good idea rather than determining what the recipient thought was a good idea.
It seems being a resource provider is a good thing.  Not making a show of provision, but just surreptitiously doing what needs to be done.  If I can help another with something they want help with, that seems to me to be a good thing.