About 20 years ago, my then room mate and I were in a Kmart in the men's department looking at clothes. He then ask me if I could buy him a pair of pants as he needed them. I looked at the pants and they were 19.99. I then pulled out my wallet and looked inside. There was 22 dollars there, so I told him no that I could not buy him the pants. A couple minutes later I heard The Lord say to me to look inside the wallet further in one of the hidden compartments(folds). So when I looked in there I found a twenty dollar bill that The Lord had me put there for Him, the week before. I then heard, "now buy him the pants." Just before leaving the department it came to me to pick up a gray pair for myself. At the check out my friend looked puzzled by me holding 2 pairs of pants to purchase. The check out lady then said, "that will be 21.99". My friend could not believe that my pair cost me 2 dollars and he thanked me for the pants. And I told him that it was not I that bought him the pants. As we were walking to the car I heard The Lord say, "My son, from this day forward, you shall give to all who ask of you".
How should we handle beggars?
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How do we handle beggars? Look for opportunities to be a vessel God uses to bless or encourage or help someone else.
Hebrews 13:1-3
[1]Let brotherly love continue.
[2]Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
[3]Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Proverbs 3:27-28
[27]Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
[28]Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
James 2:15-16
[15]If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[16]And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Luke 6:38
[38]Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
God has given me opportunity to be blessed by the opportunity to help meet someone else's need. I just need to testify. I don't want to go into great detail because it's not in the dollar amount, but in the realization that God gave me an opportunity to cross paths with someone who was in need. And in being His vessel, He blessed my heart BIG TIME!
I was on my way into a store parking lot the other day when I looked over and saw a woman holding a sign. All I had to read was... "My son is in the hospital...." ...and I knew I had to stop. I saw this Mama's face and immediately identified. I have been in the situation of having a son in the hospital and I know how a Mama's heart aches when their children are hurting.
I pulled my vehicle next to her and motioned for her to come. She walked toward me and I saw she was on verge of tears. I hugged her and asked her to tell me about her son. She began to cry and to pour her heart out... and my heart knew I needed to help her. We talked for a little while about our children (and the fact that I was in a bit of a time crunch became irrelevant).
In spending time with her, I gained a new friend and an opportunity to be a support in other ways. (And when I told a close friend about her, this friend felt God leading them to give to this woman as well. Thus, the need was met, and then some.... glory to God!!!)
Hebrews 13:1-3
[1]Let brotherly love continue.
[2]Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
[3]Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Proverbs 3:27-28
[27]Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
[28]Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
James 2:15-16
[15]If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[16]And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Luke 6:38
[38]Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
God has given me opportunity to be blessed by the opportunity to help meet someone else's need. I just need to testify. I don't want to go into great detail because it's not in the dollar amount, but in the realization that God gave me an opportunity to cross paths with someone who was in need. And in being His vessel, He blessed my heart BIG TIME!
I was on my way into a store parking lot the other day when I looked over and saw a woman holding a sign. All I had to read was... "My son is in the hospital...." ...and I knew I had to stop. I saw this Mama's face and immediately identified. I have been in the situation of having a son in the hospital and I know how a Mama's heart aches when their children are hurting.
I pulled my vehicle next to her and motioned for her to come. She walked toward me and I saw she was on verge of tears. I hugged her and asked her to tell me about her son. She began to cry and to pour her heart out... and my heart knew I needed to help her. We talked for a little while about our children (and the fact that I was in a bit of a time crunch became irrelevant).
In spending time with her, I gained a new friend and an opportunity to be a support in other ways. (And when I told a close friend about her, this friend felt God leading them to give to this woman as well. Thus, the need was met, and then some.... glory to God!!!)
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I am a 64 year old female, and when I was 60, I was homeless. So, I'm speaking from experience.
First of all, not ALL or even MOST homeless are drug addicts/alcholics/mentally ill...or just scammers. People become homeless for many legitimate reasons, and the average amount of time one spends homeless is about 4 months.
Second, not all beggars are looking for food. Homeless doesn't always mean hungry. The majority of homeless in my neck of the woods (no pun intended) knew where they could go to get a meal...or two...or even three, every day.
But they MAY need money for other things. A bus pass...a pair of slacks from Good Will...even something like Advil. Some just home to make enough money begging so they can get a cheap motel room and a shower...maybe even enough money to wash their clothes.
Some seem to believe, "They should just get a job!" You guys who think this way, have no idea the challenges a homeless person has on a daily basis, just to survive. Finding a place to use a bathroom can be a challenge. And getting a job adds its own challenges, in addition to, trying to survive another day.
These days, getting a job requires using a computer. That means tracking down places that may have public computers available...and then actually getting to those places. When filling out an application, you're asked for your name...and address. What's a homeless person supposed to say? As someone here pointed out, an employer probably wouldn't hire someone who's homeless, no matter how "un-homeless" they look. Even if not homeless, it's not as easy to "just get a job"...as if one can just walk out of their door in the morning, and be employed by the afternoon.
Homeless people, a.k.a. "beggars" are often not treated with compassion in our society for a whole host of reasons. The homeless have been spit on, yelled at, flipped off, taunted, mocked, had drinks and food thrown in their faces, accused of being "low-life's", dragging society down. They've been told they're "stupid" and "worthless". Have been beaten up, raped and even killed for being homeless. And yes, being thought of as drug addicts/alcoholics and mentally ill.
When I was homeless, I actually felt blessed. I KNEW where to go to get food...and shelter...and to use a bathroom...and where to take a shower a few times a week...wash my clothes for free. Yes, I went to church every day. Stayed in the chapel after services, sometimes for the whole day. I actually prayed for the apartment that I now have. Not the exact apartment, but I prayed for a one bedroom apartment, that was close to my church and that was on a bus line, with reasonable rent.
I believe the Lord led me to this place. Yes, it's a one bedroom. Yes, it's on a major bus line (the bus stop is right outside my door). And the rent is "reasonable", that includes my water, trash, cable, WiFi and electricity. Also, I recently found out that I'm the only person in a 350 apartment complex that has a double sink in the kitchen! Thank you, JESUS!
Being homeless isn't fun. But I'll tell you all...
...I wouldn't have traded that experience for the world.
First of all, not ALL or even MOST homeless are drug addicts/alcholics/mentally ill...or just scammers. People become homeless for many legitimate reasons, and the average amount of time one spends homeless is about 4 months.
Second, not all beggars are looking for food. Homeless doesn't always mean hungry. The majority of homeless in my neck of the woods (no pun intended) knew where they could go to get a meal...or two...or even three, every day.
But they MAY need money for other things. A bus pass...a pair of slacks from Good Will...even something like Advil. Some just home to make enough money begging so they can get a cheap motel room and a shower...maybe even enough money to wash their clothes.
Some seem to believe, "They should just get a job!" You guys who think this way, have no idea the challenges a homeless person has on a daily basis, just to survive. Finding a place to use a bathroom can be a challenge. And getting a job adds its own challenges, in addition to, trying to survive another day.
These days, getting a job requires using a computer. That means tracking down places that may have public computers available...and then actually getting to those places. When filling out an application, you're asked for your name...and address. What's a homeless person supposed to say? As someone here pointed out, an employer probably wouldn't hire someone who's homeless, no matter how "un-homeless" they look. Even if not homeless, it's not as easy to "just get a job"...as if one can just walk out of their door in the morning, and be employed by the afternoon.
Homeless people, a.k.a. "beggars" are often not treated with compassion in our society for a whole host of reasons. The homeless have been spit on, yelled at, flipped off, taunted, mocked, had drinks and food thrown in their faces, accused of being "low-life's", dragging society down. They've been told they're "stupid" and "worthless". Have been beaten up, raped and even killed for being homeless. And yes, being thought of as drug addicts/alcoholics and mentally ill.
When I was homeless, I actually felt blessed. I KNEW where to go to get food...and shelter...and to use a bathroom...and where to take a shower a few times a week...wash my clothes for free. Yes, I went to church every day. Stayed in the chapel after services, sometimes for the whole day. I actually prayed for the apartment that I now have. Not the exact apartment, but I prayed for a one bedroom apartment, that was close to my church and that was on a bus line, with reasonable rent.
I believe the Lord led me to this place. Yes, it's a one bedroom. Yes, it's on a major bus line (the bus stop is right outside my door). And the rent is "reasonable", that includes my water, trash, cable, WiFi and electricity. Also, I recently found out that I'm the only person in a 350 apartment complex that has a double sink in the kitchen! Thank you, JESUS!
Being homeless isn't fun. But I'll tell you all...
...I wouldn't have traded that experience for the world.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I really dislike the term "beggar" because people use it in such a derogatory way. I have been in dire straits myself, losing the home I was renting while my youngest son was in the hospital fighting for his life. If it were not for my oldest son having a camper trailer, we would have been homeless. It was a bad and dangerous situation, but it was a roof.
@Mink57 How we need to experience practical dependence on the Lord, prayerfully, day by day, moment by moment!
I don't like the term "beggar" either...which is why I prefer, "Residentially-challenged". :)
So many people don't seem to get that quite a number of people--who aren't homeless--are pretty much ONE paycheck away from being evicted. Not all of us make $100,000 a year. In fact, MANY of us, don't even make HALF that amount.
And yet, the one's who don't make that kind of money are the same people who service your car...give you your order at McDonald's...tend your dry cleaning...and yes, even take your 911 call...
Most of the homeless don't just wake up one day, in a warm bed and coffee in the kitchen, and say, "Gee! I have nothing better to do! Think I'll become homeless!" They have jobs...and families...and children...and something goes terribly wrong...often, through NO FAULT of themselves.
A spouse leaves...a parent dies...a child becomes ill...a company folds. And these things can happen at an unexpected time.
But for some people to look at the homeless and blame ALL of them for being homeless...is just so...inappropriate.
@Mink57
Residentially challenged.......not heard that one before...but it makes sense, I guess....
I know you are very thankful for accommodation, given your past issues........
This is what I don't like about your posts. You seem to think that "if *you* can do it, ANYONE can.
You are so, so, SO wrong. It's got nothing to do with having "half a brain cell". It has to do with circumstances...and knowledge...and access to resources. And that's not even getting into the whole psychology about becoming homeless.
I never begged on the streets myself. But I knew others who did. I don't fault them--or put them down--or think of myself as "superior", because I never did it. I certainly wasn't PROUD just because I didn't beg...the way you seem to be.
Everyone's situation is different. And if *you* were in a different situation, maybe you wouldn't be so smug. You wrote that you were "near" penniless. Being "near" penniless isn't the same thing as actually BEING penniless. For all I know, you may have had a "few" bucks that you could depend on, to help get you back on your feet.
Most people who beg on street corners feel humiliated...embarrassed...hopeless...despondent...they don't want to be there, ANY MORE, than a non-homeless person wants them there. And yet...
Even though I had an "easier" time than a LOT of other homeless people, I'm not about to say that they "don't have half a brain cell" to get out of their situation.
That's just insulting, to say the least...
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Yup...
...until you're actually there...
It's easy to 'give thanks' when all is going well. It's easy to SAY "give thanks", when all is going well.
But what about when it's not all going well?
THAT'S when God 'tests' us. How faithful will we be to God, when God decides to bestow some 'bad fortune' upon us?
@Mink57 Isaiah 48.10 says: "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction".
Job 13.15: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him"
As a Christian, my self-confidence is way off the scale, so perhaps some of these beggars should become Christians too..:)
Jesus said- "..with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
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