The Narrow Path Ministries

To Steve or Anyone,

Every time we go to town, we encounter the ubiquitous beggars at the stoplight with their cardboard signs. What to do? I am uneasy giving them money and rarely do although my wife would always do so. For a time we would keep track of how many we encountered then donate a certain amount for each to the local Christian mission which shelters, feeds, and rehabs the homeless. This evolved into a simpler giving of a set monthly gift to the local mission, and we feel good about this. Their monthly newsletter always has stories of people whose lives and souls have been saved.

However, we still have mixed feelings when we encounter the beggars. It is hard to look at them. Are we "the rich man passing Lazarus"? If we give are we helping them buy drugs? Why are they so often positioned such that there is no opportunity for dialogue (for example, about that work they are willing to do), just time to quickly decide and give them money before you must move on? But then you hear cases where the person really needed help. Then again, there is The Mission and St. Vincent DePaul where they can get help.

The newspaper ran a story once about an alcoholic beggar and a local MD who was trying to help her. After much effort, he finally convinced her to go to a facility where she would live and receive treatment. He drove her there and left her waiting in the car while he went inside to make arrangements for her. That done, he returned for her only to find her gone. While he was inside, she had begged money from a passerby and had gotten herself more booze!

I've been thinking a solution might be to pack a sack with non-perishable food items, ready to hand out. No money for drugs or alcohol. But, then again, that would free up other money they get for abuse.

I would appreciate any comments regarding this. What do you do; what would Jesus have us do?

In Christ, Homer

Hi Homer,

I give to everyone who asks me for money, but I don't encounter beggars very often -- maybe a couple a month or so. Sometimes I have the same concerns you mentioned, but I still give them something. I don't know, it just seems to be the right thing to do. I'll be interested in what others have to say...

Michelle

One of these days I hope to call in to Steve's show and one of the questions that has been on my mind is how does Steve make a good decision about who is the recipient of his giving? It seems to me that we all wish to be about the Father's business--seeing to the needs of others--but I think it's all too easy to make a mistake on just who is in need and who is just looking for the free ride. If we give with right motives, that is great. But we are to be good stewards also, knowing our resourses belong to God and we will need to give an account on how we used His stuff.

Because of that, I'm not going to be handing a buck or two to some guy with a sign on a street corner. And it's unlikely anyone is going to be able to find out if this guy is a con man unless you get out of the car and have a conversation with him. That's another thing I've noticed about where these folks set up shop, it's always in a place where there is no place to park without blocking traffic.

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that just because you have prayed to the Lord to bless where you spend His money, if you didn't use discernment on your decision making, you end up being off base.

When we lived in a certain area of California it was well known that a certain man would ask christians for money (beg) he would pretend to be a christian and new his bible fairly well... He definitely was aware of the 'christian lingo" and had a way of making one feel guilty until many caught on then he moved on.... I find it offensive as I see signs that
say I'm a vet well I am aware that the gov't takes good care financially
of the veterans..... Anyways, I am discerning and as I pass by if I sense
the Lords promptings I give as I can...... Recently I encountered a man walking with very small shoes and he looked uncomfortable and obvious
he was a homeless man. The Spirit prompted me to turn the car around and offer to give him a ride to Salvation Army to look for shoes he refused
and I gave him some money for a hot meal. I then asked him if he had heard that Jesus could be a friend to him and prayed for him.... If we want to witness our saviour to others we need to help them first...........
We dont have to always give money but offer a meal or if no shirt a shirt.

My sister and her family live in a large city where there are many poor and beggars. She gave me this tip that is very loving and practical. She keeps day old bagels or rolls and Mcdonalds cupons in her purse and gives them out to anyone who asks for food or money. This way she is helping them without giving money toward a drinking or drug problem and she is not taling food out of her own childrens mouths.
I live in a small town and rarely see a street person but the last time we did I gave him the twinkies I had in my car, not very good for you but I felt God wanted me to resond to this person in some loving way.

Yeah, I guess we should just use our "judgement" before giving out handouts. Instead of just give and be on our way, maybe we should take the time to figure out what they want the money for? Start a conversation with them. After figuring out what they need, perhaps we can provide their needs directly instead of giving cash.

I've encountered many times around fast food places where beggars asked for change because they're hungry. More often then not, when I offer to buy them a burger, they'd all turn me down. So far, only one lady who actually take me on my offer. So I bought her a meal.

Anyway, I'm sure we'll often be taken for a ride. I'm sure I've been cheated by con aritists many times, but few bucks here and there should harm anybody. Still we should try to exercise more 'judgement' so that we won't further encourage more con-artists to con the Christian community. I think our Lord would be happier if we actually 'donate' some time to whoever's needy too. Get to know them more... instead of the usual 'donate and run'... or simply ignore them and pretend that they're all con-artists.

Some general princples:

1. Try to converse with the person to determine situation/need
2. Consider the location, are they trying to manipulate via high pressure environment
3. Are they performing a service or just asking for a hand-out? If they seem to be able-bodied, but only beg, be careful
4. Try to respond to the most obvious needs (give shoes to a shoeless man before giving cash to a begger)
5. Let God's Spirit lead you
6. Try not to give cash, but provide the immediate need (food/clothing/etc)

Can anyone add/subtract from this list?

I thought about this some more today and wrote this....

.................

Each time we encounter a person or persons in need we make a choice. We either help or we don't. I suppose the 'spiritual' thing to say is we should always make the choice to help. But I don't think that's possible or wise in the real world. Maybe I'll take a hit for having this opinion, but here are some principles I use for making these choices.

7 Principles for a Good Samaritan

1. Consider the manner of the request
If a person is overly aggressive in their request or uses a high pressure environment to provoke a hand-out, I'm less likely to give. If they are interested in cash and not in conversation, I'm less likely to give.

2. Consider the quantity of the problem
How many people are involved in this need? Are there 200 needy people in 1 place? If so, I'm less likely to give to any of them and more likely to take the problem to the church to develop a larger scale ministry.

3. Consider the quality of the problem
Is the problem specific? Does it require immediate attention? If so, I'm much more likely to choose to meet the need. I'm much more interested in providing shoes to a bare foot man than a quick $20 to a healthy young male.

4. Try to connect/converse
I feel like if I can converse with the person in need, I'm able to get a better sense for what action is wise. Plus, connecting provides an opportunity to minister more fully.

5. Try not to give cash
My policy is it's always better to meet the need specifically than to just hand the person/people cash. Do they need gas? Fill their car up for them. Do they need heat? Pay their bill. We are called to give, but we are also stewards.

6. Try to limit the risk
Should I pick up that hitch-hiker? A good policy is to keep the risk to a minimum. What time of day is it? What's the reputation of that road? I am not sure a woman driver should make a habit of picking up male hitch-hikers.

7. Let the Spirit lead you
Most important, seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. He is all-wise and will help you make wise choices. The first 6 principles take a back seat to principle number 7.

Any thoughts?

When Jesus asked us to give to those who ask from us, He did not instruct us to assess the person before giving.

On the other hand, an early writing known as "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles" gives this advice:

Let your money sweat in your hand until you know to whom you are to give.

I know one person who asks beggars why they need money. If the beggar replies that he is hungry, this person takes him out to a restaurant, and buys him a meal.

We can't give to everyone who asks, nor should we

Televangelists ask for money all the time, claiming they need it
Robbers ask banks for all their money
And people we know are going to use money for booze/drugs ask for cash

I think Jesus was speaking toward a general principle toward giving.