What has Father revealed to you in this situation???????

I have a question regarding something that happened today. I was on my way to the local store and in the parking lot there was a man asking for change. I felt panicked and uncomfortable for two reasons. The first reason was that as a woman I was really uncomfortable having a man come up to me alone. The second reason was I just really did not know how to handle the situation. I told him that I did not have any change because I honestly didn't.(I don't carry cash, I am more comfortable just using my debt.) He was polite and said he was sorry to bother me and walked away. I felt really bad for him because it was snowing and really cold out, the wind was blowing a bit. This is the first time this has happened to me at this particular store. I guess my question is how do some of you handle this type of situation? If I had some others with me I would have asked him if he needed food and offered to buy him some grocery, but being alone I was not comfortable doing that. I really try not to go to many places on my own because I do not feel that it is safe in this day and age for women to be out on their own, unprotected. I know in this economy times are so hard that people need help but its hard to know which ones really need the help and which ones just want to use the money to continue to feed habits??? Not sure what the answer is just know that it left me feeling sad.

How can you respond to a need if you don't first
try to determine what the need is?? Yes, you
might have offered to buy him some food or maybe
a hat or gloves for the cold; but you found it
easier to walk away "feeling sad."

Wow! That was really harsh, and may I say not called for. I totally did not find it easier to walk away feeling just sad. I have been praying for the man since this happened. I said I did not know what to do because for one I was alone. And I also admitted to not knowing how to handle this situation. Honestly I was looking for some guidance in this kind of situation from older more mature Christians when I posted that was my intention. I also stated that because I was alone and he was a man I was uncomfortable. Having had three women recently kidnapped and raped in my area does make one think twice about these kinds of situations. I guess as a young Christian that this is not the best place to come for help or guidance with daily seeking to walk with Jesus???

I'm new here and know none of you, so please forgive any of my views if they're contrary to yours.

First, as a woman, you must be more careful in your surroundings. You're an easy target. It would have been bordering on foolishness to start digging in your purse or billfold in front of this man. Be smart.

It sounds like the guy wasn't a threat, and he realized he startled you. You were caught off guard and turned him away, not out of selfishness, but inexperience. Being more experienced now, next time have a couple bucks and a tract in your coat pocket ready should the need arise again. God's blessings to you.

I think it is a matter of just being sensitive to God. i have worked extensively in homeless ministry and food programs and can say for sure that not all perceived needs are genuine needs. in fact, most probably are [u]not[/u].

As a woman you do need to be careful. Even men have to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But the reality is we just need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be willing if He should press upon us to do something- to do it. We need to know it is God in these types of situations. In other more 'safe' cases we might could help without fear. Just pray and ask God to help you in the future and don't allow the devil to beat you down over it all.

Wind Blows, I see I posted about the same time you did. Please don't take my post as critical. It wasn't meant to be.

Wind_Blows,

Dear Lady don't beat yourself up and condemn yourself because of this incident. God knows your heart. I have a wonder wife and a 22 year old daughter that I have told not to be in a parking lot alone. You did the right thing because you being a woman should never make yourself vulnerable to a strange man. Don't let your emotions get the best of you. Pray this thing through to God. There have been a lot of women hurt by so called nice men.

This man could have easily asked more specifically up in front of the store area instead of in the parking lot where you were alone. I would have expected my daughter to walk away from him. I have told her not to stay still in a parking lot by herself.

Blessings to you!

sojourner7 wrote:
How can you respond to a need if you don't first
try to determine what the need is?? Yes, you
might have offered to buy him some food or maybe
a hat or gloves for the cold; but you found it
easier to walk away "feeling sad."

I hope your intentions are misrepresented in your post, if not, it sounds like you have no problem dishing out off-the-cuff criticisms of those it appears the Spirit is working in. I trust you posted that after having given the coat off your back to some homeless person earlier in the day...

wind_blows,
I often think of the situation of Peter and John at the gate Beautiful in the book of Acts. They are confronted with a begger asking for what he thought he needed. Yet, their response to Him was, "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."

God knew how you would respond when confronted with this situation and I believe He allowed this encounter to take place so that you might walk away asking this very question, "what should I have done?" This question and your process of wrestling with it and of seeking God is going to be more valuable than the ten dollars you might have given this man. This might have been a primer situation to mature you and prepare you for future encounters or situations. But let me encourage you, people don't always know what they need, so be ready in season and out of season for how the Lord might use you to affect those around you.

As we grow in the Lord and are led by the spirit, we will know how to handle situations.
Once while going on a trip I was sitting outside of McDonalds eating a hamburger and I saw this guy going through the garbage looking in bags for food that someone may have thrown away in the bags...
God told me to buy him what he needed.
I got out of the car and told him he didnt need to do that and I took him inside and let him order anything he wanted.
After he ordered and got his food we sat down together and talked, I found out he was trying to get back home and had run out of money,,,I gave him some cash and blessed him...
this has happened to me on several occasions, and each time this happens I feel the spirit of God giving me instructions as to what to do.
In a situation when your approached and your not hearing from God, and your uncomfortable or uneasy, you could be being led to stay away from that person, there may be a potential danger present for you.
dont worry, as you grow in the Lord and Pray, you will walk more in it and know what to do when the time arises for you to do something for HIM.
God bless.

hi, iwill not speak of my many blessings because of giving but of a dear friend. my anon pal has always given wildly and as God prospered him hewould give even more.as he approachedmillionaire statis he gave like a billionaire.as katrina approached la. he had 50 houses in its direct path...slidel la. to covington la...he and his son prayed th whole night before the storm...when the area was opened to inspect no damage at all...not 1 dollars worth... he went to see how his plane made out....hanger 200 feet away hanger door 500 feet...plane as moored.he who giveth to the poor lends to God. it is not our job to worry how its used... give hillareously.jimp

Thank you for the good advice given on how to handle these situation. I will be going to the bank to get some cash to have on hand for when this comes up in the future. I will still heed the warnings for when I am alone on how to handle these situations. I do believe God gives us wisdom and I want to discern His heart always in what to do.

I also realize that the best thing for me is to keep my trips out by myself to as few as possible and then it will not be a concern that I am out alone. It was a good reminder for me in an area that I had not taken to heart as much as I should have.

I wanted to also say to NoWhining, that your post was not critical and I was not upset by it at all. You gave me useful advice and I am grateful for that. I will be looking for some tracts to print out and have on hand as well.

Thank you everyone

Hi wind_blows,

This morning, during my devotions, the Lord put it upon my heart to tell you to ask Him to show you how He can protect you in all things.

this same feeling happens to me when i drive past someone who is pulled over to the side of the road. by the time i realize i should have pulled over, i am a mile down the road with no place to turn around.

i don't think we should walk around beating ourselves up for what we didn't do, rather we should look to what we can do. it is a learning experience.

i think good words have been spoken concerning this, but know that we will never be able to meet the needs of all who are in need. the most important thing a person should ever recieve is Christ.

i don't think tracts are a bad idea, but to simply give someone a tract and then walk away without talking with them is simply ineffective. i would suggest listening to some sermons from Paul Washer concerning evangelism.

the issue of homelessness and poverty are very difficult to deal with. but don't forget what Jesus said to the disciples after having been annointed with the oil, "She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them." - Mark 14: 6,7

Thank you Heartsong for the word

I realize that Father is showing me that one way I can be protected in the things I do or at least where I go is to take up the offers of those around me to go along with me so that I am not in situations where I am alone and perhaps more vulnerable. This desire of always heading out on my own is a issue of sin in my life, Father does give us one another to help each other and care for one another. I am seeing that I need to repent of having a lone ranger attitude. Thanks again for your reply.

This is a good topic, which has to be approached with Scriptural insight.

For instance, we know that Paul tells the Christians to give what they have "purposed in their heart" to give. It wasn't a matter of "see what the Lord tells you to give", it was a matter of simply giving what you want to give. Of course, if we are regenerate, generosity is one of the fruits of that.

Secondly, Paul states that if someone will not work, they should not eat. That means that on certain occasions it is actually disobeying Scripture to help a beggar. It simply encourages them in their laziness.

I think, if we are being prudent, we should examine the situation using Biblical wisdom and evaluate whether this is a good opportunity minister to the poor, or simply an encouragement for someone to remain in a sinful lifestyle.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

Paul states that if someone will not work, they should not eat. That means that on certain occasions it is actually disobeying Scripture to help a beggar. It simply encourages them in their laziness.

good point.

We are to give to the poor.
God will direct us.
I know that my heart is toward the poor.It does my heart good to help others.
God Bless all.
Nellie

I have found that the Lord sends me those that He would have me to help. In this, I do not have to worry about whether or not I am helping the "right" people - for if it is right in His eyes, it is right indeed.

One time, I was having lunch with my sister in the city, and as we were leaving the restaurant a disheveled man rode up to us on his bicycle and requested money for his wife. While my sister was annoyed by the inconvenience, due to some things that the Lord had shown me earlier in the day, I had no doubt that the Lord had sent him to me.

After I gave him some money, he began to peddle away but then he stopped and looked back and asked who he should thank for the money. I replied "the Lord." He then nodded his head and said "Ah, the Lord, yes, He provides all things." And then he peddled away.

Thanks for the assurance and kindness, Wind Blows. I was so afraid I'd hurt you.

Fuehrerbe21, once, driving down the freeway in Houston, I passed a car on the side with a flat. Traffic was heavy and I kept going, but a mile or so down the road, I felt so strongly that I should go back. When I pulled up behind the car, an elderly couple got out. Both were too weak to lift the spare, and had been praying for God to send help. They were amazed that God brought me back several miles to answer their prayer.

Another thing concerning Wind Blows' incident. In the future, with this economy, we'll all see more people begging for help. Not the ones we see normally, but those that have never imagined they'd be broke and hungry. We should all prepare for this, brothers and sisters.