See a need?

As I was reading in the book of James again, I thought about this passage of scriptures: James 2:14 -  18. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by may works."  I do a lot of talking about my faith, and this passage makes me think. I see some generous people around me. I hear of acts of kindness on the internet and other places. This is James the brother of Jesus talking to the Christians of his day. In this day those words would include me. Why is this sometimes so hard? We do not want to be taken advantage of,  if and when we are generous. I saw a clip of face book where in Oklahoma, a couple of people became outraged when they saw a person that was panhandling on a corner get into an almost new car. They had given money to this elderly lady, who they thought needed the help. Then when she got done panhandling they somehow happened  to see her leave and get into this nice car. One had a video camera and was taping the other guy who had given $15 dollars to this woman. In fact he stated he had given money to her on several days in a row. He was really upset. I would guess he will not be as generous in the future. I've had it happen to me where I tried to be smart about my giving and still see a bag of groceries I had just bought go down the side walk behind a dope man. I bought shoes one time and saw the young lady I bought them for leave the tags on and wear them that way. I thought as soon as she is out of my sight, she is probably going to exchange them for money. Then someone who was a little more hip than me told me, no that is the style, to leave the tags on.  I think it is something that is going to happen from time to time. It is hard to help someone who has taken advantage of you in some way.  I do think we need to be wise. But James is saying our faith is not worth anything if we see someone in need and have the means to help but don't. In the book of Luke is the following scriptures where Jesus was talking to a rich young ruler: Luke 18:18-24
"And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!"
In this story I see Jesus answering the man's question. "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus knew the man's heart, just as he knows ours today. It takes faith, believing in Jesus, that he died on the cross for our sins. That he rose again on the third day as foretold by the scriptures. If God does not have our heart, which is evident of the rich young ruler, we can keep all the laws we want. We will find it hard to do the things Jesus asks of us. When we see the needs of those around us and have the means to help. We must be hard hearted, God does not have our hearts. God gives to the just and the unjust a like. And perhaps in his image, there may be times when we give and help someone who is not needing and only taking advantage of us. More important than the condition of their heart, is the conditions of mine. Am I able to do the things God asks of me? Like Pastor Charles Stanley says, Obey God and leave the consequences to him.   God wants  our hearts, can we show our faith by our works?  Works alone don't cut it, show our faith with our works. God bless, LVZ,