How should we handle beggars?

[Taken]

How should we handle beggars?
OP ^

It’s a conundrum.
Observe.
* some people sit every day, same place, same sign, asking for $$.
(Begging for $$ is “their job”.) End of day, get into their vehicle, drive to their home.

* some people wander through parking lots every day, begging every shopper patron, for $$ with their sob story repeated over and over, even dragging their kids along to solidify their sob story.

* some are genuinely homeless. Some chose that life style. Some can not gain employment because of addictions, mental health issues, kid / spouse runaways.

* some give an appearance of homeless, are not.

* some are willing to work odd jobs to earn $$.

* some do not ASK, but clog traffic on street corners, hoping for willing givers.

All kinds, All different methods, All different stories.

* I will give change if asked.

Never know, it may be an angel testing you.

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

One time, I was putting fuel in my vehicle. A lady female asked if I could spare $$ for her to purchase fuel. I pulled a $5 out of my pocket. She snatched it out of my hand, and said; “that’s it? What am I supposed to do with 5 bucks”. Nothing, I said, as I snatched it back out of her hand, put it back into my pocket.

Never know.
It may be the needy asking for a temporary helping hand or the one whose mission in life is seeking enablers.
God will judge.


1 Tim 5:
[8] But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Yikes! Worse than an unbeliever...!!

 

[quietthinker]

One of the famous beggars in our area was working at a good- Paying Factory job and then one day on his lunch- break decided just for the heck of it, to go outside where the traffic was heavy and hold up a sign that said “ Homeless”.... to this day , he has not returned back to work....he got caught at the local Wal-Mart later going through the check out line with a $ 2000 big screen TV....somebody recognized him and took a picture of him and it was later on the front page of our local newspaper......didn’t faze him much......he just started pan handling at a new location about a half hour away.....I think he was working on his HBO Subscription at that time....lol...

Systems, right down to the individual slides into illness with all the self justification, unsolicited advice giving and blaming of others revealing the denial rampant.

For those who hold the Son of Man high, we are not to operate like that.

 

[Jay Ross]

How should we treat/handle beggars? With the compassion that God has given us as His disciples.

We as God's disciples do not know the life style that God has called us to live in. God may well require us to live as beggars in this world.

If we were beggars, then how would we expect others to treat us? Would we accept a "Bless you my son, go and sin no more.', or would we want to be treated with compassion. The parable found in matt. 25:31ff may shine some light on this question.

 

[Dropship]

None of us have been on the streets, so none of us would know of that world and the issues and problems it can bring. Why do many on here continuously feel the need to judge others without walking in their shoes...
I don’t think it’s easy to get jobs if you are homeless….

Like I said earlier, I was briefly homeless myself when I was released from prison in 2002 after a 3-month vigilante rap, living rough in a tent in a wood near Cheltenham shivering with an underactive thyroid but my sense of humour was intact. "Oh great" I thought, "I've ended up as Bigfoot"
I was near-penniless and jobless to boot, but never went around begging cash from anybody, and I soon got out and up, no problemo.
So if I can do it anybody with half a brain cell can..:)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of selfdiscipline" (2 Timothy 1:7)

PS- Perhaps if people stopped giving them handouts, it'd galvanise them into action to spruce themselves up, pull themselves together and get organised..:)

 

[Dropship]

Regarding job interviews, I once appled for a job as temporary hotel porter at the Park Hotel Leicester and was so good at the interview that the owners offered me the job of hotel manager on the spot, but sadly I couldn't take it because I was planning to move to Plymouth later, a pity because I'd have quite liked being Basil Fawlty..:)

 

[Rita]

Like I said earlier, I was briefly homeless myself when I was released from prison in 2002 after a 3-month vigilante rap, living rough in a tent in a wood near Cheltenham shivering with an underactive thyroid but my sense of humour was intact. "Oh great" I thought, "I've ended up as Bigfoot"
I was near-penniless and jobless to boot, but never went around begging cash from anybody, and I soon got out and up, no problemo.
So if I can do it anybody with half a brain cell can..:)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of selfdiscipline" (2 Timothy 1:7)

PS- Perhaps if people stopped giving them handouts, it'd galvanised them into action to spruce themselves up, pull themselves together and get organised..:)

Many apologies Dropship I missed a post and didn’t realise your own passed. Must go back and read, did you share how things turned around for you xx
Rita

 

[Raccoon1010]

None of us have been on the streets, so none of us would know of that world and the issues and problems it can bring. Why do many on here continuously feel the need to judge others without walking in their shoes. Addicts would understand that side of things, people who have battles from their past and how they can lead to a slippery slope. How many men end up on the streets because they lose their jobs, marriages end and men do not get as much support and help with housing as women and others who come into the country ( in the U.K. )
Some do get welfare, but they have lost everything else so it’s understandable that they find it hard to get out of their circumstances, thankfully one do ..
Before my son had his breakdown he would talk to the homeless if he was out with his mates, he learned that many feel invisible and absolutely worthless when people just walk past them, a bit of mud on someone’s shoe. I have felt that at work when managers say hello or talk to people standing near me and totally ignore the fact that I am there, when they say hello to others and walk straight by you without a word. It’s a horrible feeling.
I don’t think it’s easy to get jobs if you are homeless. If a tramp walked into an interview I should imagine it would get the same reaction as a tramp walking into church…….

I'm intentionally ignoring this thread as it is filled with vain ideas. My brother was homeless for years and I fed him so he didn't starve. He slept in the woods and during winter would freeze. It was terrible. He has a mental illness and can't work or function very well. And I was even homeless during summer and winter for a few months. It was terrible. The Lord was with me.

That said you nailed it right on the head. The people you find judging the homeless and casting stones at them are the people that have had smooth lives and much success staying in a place.

It's the Lord that chooses whether or not we have a good life, not us.

 

[Raccoon1010]

Like I said earlier, I was briefly homeless myself when I was released from prison in 2002 after a 3-month vigilante rap, living rough in a tent in a wood near Cheltenham shivering with an underactive thyroid but my sense of humour was intact. "Oh great" I thought, "I've ended up as Bigfoot"
I was near-penniless and jobless to boot, but never went around begging cash from anybody, and I soon got out and up, no problemo.
So if I can do it anybody with half a brain cell can..:)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of selfdiscipline" (2 Timothy 1:7)

PS- Perhaps if people stopped giving them handouts, it'd galvanise them into action to spruce themselves up, pull themselves together and get organised..:)

God decided whether or not we are homeless. We shouldn't ever forget that. One small or large medical problem in life can end a persons existence, or make them homeless.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

People I know who work with homeless charities always say not to give cash but find out what they need and buy them a drink or a sandwich or some socks etc.

It’s good advice you were given. Ive made some discoveries while trying to help some homeless in an encampment in the woods behind where my shop was until recently. They are there mostly because of a combination of mental and emotional problems, drugs and alcohol. They will absolutely go sell anything you give them that they can to buy drugs and alcohol. Even a $10 gift card to Burger King will be sold for $5 to go buy a mini at the liquor store. You have to put some thought into it before you try to help them. One of them even sold a winter coat I gave him to buy booze and there he was coatless again. They’re a challenge!
I did get him another coat but it had two bleach spots on it and fraying at the cuffs. He couldn’t sell that one so my goal of keeping him warm was achieved.

 

[Raccoon1010]

It’s good advice you were given. Ive made some discoveries while trying to help some homeless in an encampment in the woods behind where my shop was until recently. They are there mostly because of a combination of mental and emotional problems, drugs and alcohol. They will absolutely go sell anything you give them that they can to buy drugs and alcohol. Even a $10 gift card to Burger King will be sold for $5 to go buy a mini at the liquor store. You have to put some thought into it before you try to help them. One of them even sold a winter coat I gave him to buy booze and there he was coatless again. They’re a challenge!
I did get him another coat but it had two bleach spots on it and fraying at the cuffs. He couldn’t sell that one so my goal of keeping him warm was achieved.

Another idea that bears little thought of the Lords will. Should a homeless person be forbidden drink? Some people given the opportunity still won't be able to survive in this world. What does the bible say about that?

Proverbs 31:6-7

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

 

[Michiah-Imla]

God decided whether or not we are homeless.

Job and Nebuchadnezzar come to mind.

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Another idea that bears little thought of the Lords will.

I see your point. Next time I’ll go buy them some crack. Thanks.

 

[Raccoon1010]

Job and Nebuchadnezzar come to mind.

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Good scripture. I could rant for a long time in this thread. I haven't had good health myself. And most of the people that don't have good health are already on retirement in life. I don't suppose the homeless really have much representation on the internet. I don't want to dishonor them. I don't think the Lord would be pleased with me if I did.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Should a homeless person be forbidden drink?

How am I forbidding a homeless person drink if I refuse to buy it for them but have the wisdom to see they need a coat and decide to spend my money that way? I didn’t forbid them alcohol…you need to rethink your post.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I don't want to dishonor them.

Well, now that you’ve schooled us on how what God wants us to do is buy them booze, it’s all good. We will honor them by buying them cases of it.

 

[Raccoon1010]

I see your point. Next time I’ll go buy them some crack. Thanks.

I once got a homeless person some beer. I knew what it was like being homeless and it was clear this guy wasn't getting back up with help. He was old and past retirement. The scripture I posted works for certain conditions, like near death. The doctors would give them legal crack called pain meds. And that is no life worth living. People are better off on alcohol.

 

[Raccoon1010]

Well, now that you’ve schooled us on how what God wants us to do is buy them booze, it’s all good. We will honor them by buying them cases of it.

See post #56 please.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

It’s one of the most bizarre rabbit holes I’ve ever fallen in to be told I don’t know Gods will and that I should buy alcohol for men who have problems with alcohol if I want to please God.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

See post #56 please.

Think before you speak please.

 

[Raccoon1010]

Think before you speak please.

Do you have any scripture to refute the one I posted? Proverbs 31:6-7