Charity, helping the poor. Questions!

I've read 'open letter of apology' which tinluke posted and it raised some questions. It would fit in that topic better, but I think it would make it go offtopic. Hence this new topic! :-)

We are to help the poor, have a merciful heart to the poor, help them, etc. Thats a theme that runs from the OT to the NT.
On the other side we have this thing called 'humanism'.
Everyone knows about beggars, and usually its annoying cause they want your money. In my city the beggars/homeless sell magazines so they can get some money and have something to do.

Are we to help them by buying these magazines? It will probably not bring them to God.
Thats where I get reluctant to give them money. Also that you always encounter them at the wrong time. :-P
You just bought something or you need the last few euro's to buy something you planned to do.

But seriously, did Christ give money to every beggar he would encounter? I'm often not in a position to really help. I would love to send more money to the organizations I recently started to support. And if I have some extra cash I would rather give it to Christian organizations then to some beggars on the street. But this is not helping the beggars is it? One could argue that it would not help either if you would buy a magazine from them.. but what about love? Or humanism? I've already thought about the possibility to give a tract in return if I buy a magazine. But I think that they would only accept the tract because you buy something from them. Even then I could only do it once or twice before I seriously have to sacrifice things for myself. And thats what I will rather do for the christian organizations.

Since I cannot give to all I am being selective and the beggers with their Impuls magazine lose from the christian organisations who are not going to help these beggars in my city. If I would able to give to all should I just buy a magazine from every beggar (and give tracts) and hope that atleast one sees the light?

If I could help rebuild the lives of the homeless with alot of cash it would just change them from poor sinners to a not-homeless sinner.
Wouldn't telling them the gospel while giving them a chance to rebuild their lives just be accepted due to the cash?

I know that Jesus healed a lot of people. Not all of them would really come to serve the Lord.
For example Luke 17:12-17. Only one returned. Is that the risk we have when we try to help all?

Is it Christlike to not reply when a beggar or homeless guy asks you to buy his magazine?
Is that loving? Or..

If anyone can shed some light on this. :-)

i dont know if this give you some light, but often times there is a man who is a drug/alcoholic addict and he often comes to my church, he always asks for money, since i used to have those problems i know what he needs it for, people do buy him somethings to eat and offer him cofee and so on, and some give him money but most people just walk by him, i know there is a passage where it says we should cloath and feed people and im all for this, but this man even when feed and cloathed and money in his pocket is still going to hell.... so when he asks me , i told him...i cant give you anything...but i can tell you about christ...about jesus... and then he left....

i belive we should give to the poor...feed the hungry... but we cant feed them all.... we cant give them all clothes...but we can share christ whit them, and when doing that can we feed someone thats wonderful, this is one of thoose things we need to be walking in the spirit... the spirit will guide us to do what is right just at that time... if we should give or if we shouldent

christian

Over 10 years ago, I was in Newark, NJ and a man came up to me and ask for some money because he was hungry. Since I had just started the job I was doing as a truck driver, I didn’t have very much money. During this time I was eating out of cans to be able to have something to eat until pay day. I told the man I could help him with his hunger and then went to the cab of the truck and brought out my supply of can food. The man told me he didn’t want that.

Over the years as a truck driver I have been duped quite a few times by people who told of a need and really were lying. Once, I stopped at a service area on I-95 in New York and a man came up with a note that said, “Don’t be afraid, I am deaf and need money to get back home on the train.” About a year later the same man approached me with a note the same way. This time I didn’t give him any money. A few minutes later, while sitting in my truck, I watched this guy empty another drivers pockets that was across the lot. I don’t know if he was really deaf or not.

I’ve seen this at a truck chapel ministry too. Many road people have stories to try to get money. The best way to identify who you are talking to is to ask questions. Some people are legitimate and some aren’t. It’s my opinion that we aren’t going to help someone by going along with their lies, so it is important to be able to discern the lie and let the person know you don’t believe him or her. Again, you often can do this by asking questions.

There are people who really do need help and lie to try to get help. Even if the person has lied, you try to help the person if you can. If you can look at the person and think that the Lord brought him or her to you, it is easier to help them. By realizing that man is made in God’s image and that the Lord would have no one to perish, it is easier to help those that are filthy with sin. Praying with them is the best way to help them whether you have any substance to help them with or not. Remember, your steps are ordered by the Lord.

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

GaryE

There is another story that I should share. Over 25 years ago, while I was a volunteer at a mission, there was a man with one leg that told me that every bit of money he gets he spends on booze. Weeks later this man approached me on the street outside the mission and ask me for some money. He said he was hungry. Of course I remembered what he had said about the booze and I hesitated to do this. I ended up giving the man the little bit of money I had at the time. The next time I saw this man he was reading a bible. Who knows what the Lord is doing.

GaryE

There is a man that I see quite often walking up and down the street as I wait for the bus asking people for money. He comes to me once and a while and he makes up an extravegant story each visit perhaps to soften me up so that I will emathize for him. My brother wondered if he used the money for booze so he asked him and the homeless man said that he quit a long time ago because of a bad experience. He said that he uses the money for Coca-Cola. Shoot, I don't know whether he is lying about it or not but I thought it would be a good idea to buy a case of bottled pop and give one to him each time I saw him. I don't know what will happen, we'll see I guess.

Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Who knows what the Lord is doing.

Hello, just dropping in. I have been lead to really study the sermon on the mount lately and I believe that Jesus means what he says. Mike Bickle in a sermon shared that God was bringing the church back to this very thing. Go the extra mile, give your coat too, turn the other cheek, etc. I think that in place of giving money to street people it is much better to take them a meal or give them warm clothes if they appear cold. If they are alcoholics it will only more firmly entrench them in their bondage to give them money. Love is practical. Maybe a job is in order if that is possible. Just my opinion. kathy

I remember giving a homeless guy in SXM some bananas. He ate them and trew the peelings on the street. :-(

One time I asked why he didn't get a job. He said something about work papers not getting in. Seemed as a lie to me, but I was not sure. A housemate of mine suspected he was on drugs. I saw that he really bought food from the cash I gave so thats why I gave him cash when he asked occasionaly.
At times I find myself ignoring him just pretending I didn't see him. This seems unloving to me.

Perhaps it is the extra mile what is required.
As for the homeless guys who sell the magazines.. I guess I could buy a magazine each month and give a tract when I buy a magazine. Now I only need to design a tract and print them.

Thank you for the advice, experiences and the bibleverses! Keep getting them in. :-)

My brother and I know a homeless guy in our town where we preach open air, we always talk to him, he has had every tract we've written, and we gave him a bible. I often give him money even when I don't have a lot myself (spare, that is). I have never asked what he does with the money and we don't pester him about Jesus, he hears us when we preach, he knows we are there twice a week, if he wants to know more he will ask us.

My belief is it's better to give ten liars a pound or two, than to miss one genuine needy person. This does't mean not to ask questions or to avoid the ones we know are fakes. I also go along with buying food and clothes for those who need them.
There are so many people out there, we are not asked to help them all but if we don't help any then we are failing in our calling.

May I add, we also have to be careful which charities we give to, I used to collect for one which calls itself 'Christian' and 'non political' but I found out on the internet, some of the money it had went to Islamic groups, and it was quoted as being anti-Israel.

We must be good stewards of our money, if we are faithful in a few things we will be faithful in much.

Ste

I have not come to a conclusion about how to deal with panhandlers or beggars. However, I'd like to add a couple things to this thread.

First, when Jesus sent out His diciples (72 was it?), he told them not to bring any money with them. I believe that this way, the only thing they had to give was the gospel. My wife and I are trying to become a family that gives so much to organisations and our brothers and sisters in Christ that we will honestly not have any money for questionable characters.

Second, and I guess this kind of conflicts with my first point, but to give a gift in Jesus name when we can't afford it pleases God much. The woman who threw two coins in the temple offering gave more in Jesus eyes than all the others who gave.

What a difficult problem to resolve!

Acts 3:1-8 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Then Peter said, [b]"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."[/b] Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

I've been thinking about this a bit since yesterday and want to add a few things which I've learned (and usually don't practice).

In one of William Law's writings he parallels our giving to others with God's giving to us. How can we judge others for spending what we give to them on drugs or alcohol when we spend what God has given to us on foolish things that kill our body or destroy our soul. Yet, God still gives to us.

When faced with a decision, I've started to ask myself which choice will be easier to explain to Christ. So, would it be easier to say "Lord, I know so and so would use the money for drugs, but your word says to give to him who asks, so I gave." or "Lord, I really wanted to help this person, not encourage their bad habits, so I decided not to give." Do we want to be making excuses before the judgement seat of Christ?

Lastly, I do believe that when a particular person is continually asking for money, it is not unbiblical to say no. Let me give you an example. A girl came to our door a few years ago looking for money. We gave it to her, knowing it would feed her addiction. Well, we ended up visiting with her from time to time or sharing a meal or letting her do laundry at our place; we formed a relationship with her. When she asked if she could borrow more money we said yes but the third time, we told her it would be the last time until we were paid back from the last time and she agreed. Well, she came back for more money and we stood our ground and gave her nothing. The point is that we gave our time to her. We encouraged her and eventually, we began to rebuke her where we thought necessary.

Anyway, hope that encourages or challenges someone.

I have read all the entries on this post. I have found many helpful and eye opening things. I think this is great for instruction. I have been pondering these things in the light of my own quest for truth about the sermon on the mount. A good brother, Orm (Ken), from this forum sent me a e-book by E. Stanley Jones entitled " The Christ of the Mount". It is wonderful, but I came upon this portion about giving to those who ask and am sending this for your benefit. I believe what he says makes a lot of sense. I thought about Peter answering the crippled man, "Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." He wasn't given what he asked for but what he really needed.

In the light of the sermon on the mount I am coming to believe maybe giving money at times is a cop out so we don't have to give part of our lives. I am speaking to myself and repenting. Any way here is the part by E. Stanley Jones it really does shed much light on the subject. You should check out the whole book as it is awesome and what God is saying to the churches as well.

“Give to him that asketh thee everything that he asks.” Jesus did not say that, for this would be ruinous both to him and to you. What he did say was: “Give to him that asketh”—not neces sarily what he asks, but be so full that you will give him something, perhaps more than he asks
—and better. His real need may be money—then give to him, not necessarily all that he asks, for that might conflict with the legitimate askings of one’s own family, but give to him. He may ask you for money, and you may see that merely to give him money is a cheap and easy and ruinous way out. You must give him more—you must give him the disposition, if possible to stand on his own feet and be self-respecting. Jesus himself did not give the man his request when he asked him to divide his brother’s inheri tance, but he did give to him—he gave him some thing that he needed more than the inheritance, namely, sound teaching about covetousness .Every man’s case, in the thought of Jesus, is your concern. Don’t turn away from any man saying that you have nothing to give or to lend—you have. If you are Christ’s you have some thing to contribute to that man’s need. Jesus reiterates here what he insisted upon in the parable of the good Samaritan: you must not pass by on the other side from human need. Every man’s need is your concern.Beggars and borrowers are the economic prodigals of society. You do not turn moral and spiritual prodigals away empty. Then “give to him that asketh”—not necessarily what he asks, but what he needs, perhaps the infusion of a new
spirit that will save him from his prodigahty You redeem others,, then redeem him. Give to everybody, and don t give up anybody."

Blessings in Him,
kathy