How should we handle beggars?

[JohnPaul]

Yes it can be an issue as stated in a previous post there are deceptive people out there posing as homeless, also many charities rip people off, as most of the $$$ get absorbed in admin costs. One needs to be discerning and ask the Holy Spirit. It was also mentioned previously that if they are addicted to drugs or alcohol etc., one does not want to enable that so maybe a better approach would be instead of giving money buy the food and give to them instead. It is good to be generous and give no doubt. In many countries there are welfare systems and I know in Australia it is quite good which is why we have had issues in the past with refugees but most were regarded as economic refugees and wanted to come here for the welfare $$$. Needs to be noted that there was no welfare system in the days of Yeshua. However the Torah provided for such as one of the tithes every 3rd year was to be given to the widows, fatherless and strangers in the storehouses which is what Malachi 3 is all about. Also the Torah instructed at harvest time not to harvest the corners of the fields or all the fruit of the trees so the afore mentioned could glean. This is also the story of Ruth in the Book of Ruth.

NKJ Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.

This is a promise of Yahweh

Shalom friends

Does giving a dollar break your bank? So if the person is pretending how many do not?

 

[Charlie24]

Jesus said "Give to the one who begs from you.." (Matthew 5:42 ESV)
but did he mean that literally?
They sit on the pavement (usually near cash machines) asking for handouts, but why can't they manage on their welfare payments?
And most look like druggies or drunks anyway, so how do we know if they'll spend our handouts on that stuff?
Personally I tend to cross the street to avoid them, but now and again I give them a few bob if they look halfway genuine.
For example a young beggar asked for a handout and showed me a red mark round his neck and said "I got this when I tried to hang myself but the rope broke", so I felt sorry for him and gave him some cash.
Later I wondered if it was a good idea because he might have gone out and bought a thicker rope..;)

Personally, I never give cash to an unknown beggar. I offer to pay for a meal, but cash is not the way to give to an unknown beggar, in my opinion.

 

[Wynona]

I try to be prepared.

I like to make bags with essentials and food to give out my window. Or Ill stop and get them some food.

Im not big on handing out cash as that could feed a drug addiction. If you have time, handing them a blessing bag and praying for them is great.

If people feel uncomfortable giving cash, I understand. But I think some time and attention to really love those in need can go a long way.

 

[Hidden In Him]

And most look like druggies or drunks anyway, so how do we know if they'll spend our handouts on that stuff?

Most actually are druggies and drunks, some also have mental health problems, and nearly all are genuinely in bad straights.

I don't give to support their drug habits, but I do try to have sympathy for their plight so I will often give a little. I can tell one woman I recently gave to was a little nuts. She was still young but clearly an alcoholic with zero life, and likely crazy. She was pushing a shopping buggy across a convenience store parking lot with no real direction to it, and when she got some money she bought something and walked across the street and sat on the curb facing AWAY from the street, like facing the side of a building instead. She was sweet when I spoke to her.

My point is this: She was apparently an alcoholic, but how do I know this woman was not sexually abused as a young girl and developed mental health problems and turned to liquor to cope? How many other people on the street have similar stories? Addiction, in and of itself, is no joy ride, and neither is being reduced to begging or living in the same clothes for weeks on end.

I think one needs to be wise and circumspect (there can actually be dangers involved on occasion, like if you give a ride to the wrong person), but there also needs to be compassion in many instances. I may not like supporting a habit that is destroying them, but I do want to keep them alive and hoping for a better day in the midst of it, and as I said, I've never met a beggar yet who walked away and jumped in a Mazerati and flipped me off as they were driving away. They generally do live very tough lives.

Found a video on it that was rather interesting:

 

[Matthias]

I don’t give money to anyone begging for money. I have offered to buy food for them and ask them to accompany into a restaurant to dine with me. A few have accepted my offer and were very thankful for it. (I haven’t yet but I might consider giving such persons some money after such an experience.) Most have declined my offer and quickly turned their attention to others; a few have verbally vented their wrath that I offered assistance in the manner that I did.

 

[Matthias]

On a slightly different note …



Where I live, schools and churches are more and more putting up small boxes like this and asking people who are able to voluntarily stock them for the benefit of those in need. The boxes are in constant need of restocking. I don’t know who is availing themselves of this assistance and don’t need to. God does, and he knows why they do. I like the idea and encourage those who are able and willing to render assistance in this way. Even a single can of soup contributed and a prayer goes a long way to helping someone in need.

 

[Dropship]

Food for thought- Some of our taxes already go to beggars and homeless via welfare handouts, so why should we dish out more to them in the street?..:)

 

[JohnPaul]

Food for thought- Some of our taxes already go to beggars and homeless via welfare handouts, so why should we dish out more to them in the street?..:)

I always give, many of the street beggars don’t receive welfare, and if I could help the person by having a better night by giving them a handout, why not?

 

[Bob Estey]

Jesus said "Give to the one who begs from you.." (Matthew 5:42 ESV)
but did he mean that literally?
They sit on the pavement (usually near cash machines) asking for handouts, but why can't they manage on their welfare payments?
And most look like druggies or drunks anyway, so how do we know if they'll spend our handouts on that stuff?
Personally I tend to cross the street to avoid them, but now and again I give them a few bob if they look halfway genuine.
For example a young beggar asked for a handout and showed me a red mark round his neck and said "I got this when I tried to hang myself but the rope broke", so I felt sorry for him and gave him some cash.
Later I wondered if it was a good idea because he might have gone out and bought a thicker rope..;)

I sometimes wonder how far we are supposed to take the Lord's commandment regarding this. What we have here are people camped at certain spots where cars drive by, with signs asking for money. I usually ignore them. But when someone walks up and asks for money politely, I'll usually give them a little something. It doesn't happen often.

 

[Bob Estey]

Food for thought- Some of our taxes already go to beggars and homeless via welfare handouts, so why should we dish out more to them in the street?..:)

And right now, it's easy to get a job in these parts, I think.

 

[Jim B]

Food for thought- Some of our taxes already go to beggars and homeless via welfare handouts, so why should we dish out more to them in the street?..:)

Because they need more -- obviously!

Could you survive on welfare?

Do unto others...

 

[Jim B]

And right now, it's easy to get a job in these parts, I think.

You think wrongly. Not many business would hire the homeless. If you ran a business, would you hire a homeless person?

 

[Bob Estey]

You think wrongly. Not many business would hire the homeless. If you ran a business, would you hire a homeless person?

I don't know that all beggars are homeless, but government agencies do help the homeless, don't they?

 

[quietthinker]

don't let you left hand know what your right hand is doing!.......Jesus

 

[Enoch111]

And most look like druggies or drunks anyway, so how do we know if they'll spend our handouts on that stuff?

Well there is an easy solution. One could ask the beggar a few questions and then respond accordingly. But it would involve personal time and resources to truly help this person stop begging and become productive. Too many panhandlers in the city where I live are sane, able-bodied persons. Too many homeless bottle and can collectors are actually doing quite well with their tax free income. So one should focus on people in third world countries who are not simply mooching but are in dire straits for all kinds of reasons.

 

[quietthinker]

Yes most of us would gladly help people in that situation, but the vast majority of beggars aren't in such dire straits..:)

'what you have done to the least you have done it to me'......Jesus

 

[Dropship]

Could you survive on welfare?
..

During spells of unemployment I survived easily on welfare, but then I've never smoked drank or drugged so I never needed to spend on that..:)

 

[BloodBought 1953]

Our governments already look after them via welfare payments and homeless hostels etc, so there's no real excuse for anybody to beg anyway.
Some are just cheeky street beggars getting a kick out of taking us for mugs..:)

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...

 

[BloodBought 1953]

Yes most of us would gladly help people in that situation, but the vast majority of beggars aren't in such dire straits..:)

Many are just lazy....

The Bible is VERY BIG on helping the poor, but on the “ other” hand , the Bible ALSO says that” If you don’t work, you don’t eat! “

 

[Rita]

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…….