Comments on: Should you give to beggars? http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/ Christian Personal Finance - Financial help blog, debt help and other financial resources Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dara http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-171677 Dara Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:13:41 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-171677 Arthur, that is an excellent Scripture reference! I think the decisions of when to give or not to give are individual ones that Christians do not make alone (by the guidance of the Holy Spirit). I trust my Father more than anyone and there have been times when I have said yes and times I have felt the need to say no because of a warning feeling. Rather than focusing on the giving scenario, we must all face the responsibility of looking inward first. Making sure that we aren't making decisions based on financial fear, greediness, or judgmental attitudes. If we are in a right relationship with God and in right attitudes about money, God will direct us. I agree with the posters who've said they'd err to the side of generosity, because that is very Bible-based. However, I have had situations where I've given to supposedly fellow Christians in the church who have lied and mislead me and others about things and behaved in irresponsible manners. I had to discontinue more because I feared for their spiritual lives than that I was being lied to or taken advantage of (my God is my provider and I feel these folks are taking advantage of God more so than me!). It would not be love to allow this person to continue to live in sin and support them in it. They showed no remorse and eventually left the church, probably b/c the "gig was up." Again, this was within the church so very different than outside as some have mentioned. Read your Bible and know what it says about giving, obey it, and trust the Holy Spirit for your acts of giving whether to a beggar on the street, a missionary visiting your church, or a family member in need! Arthur, that is an excellent Scripture reference! I think the decisions of when to give or not to give are individual ones that Christians do not make alone (by the guidance of the Holy Spirit). I trust my Father more than anyone and there have been times when I have said yes and times I have felt the need to say no because of a warning feeling.

Rather than focusing on the giving scenario, we must all face the responsibility of looking inward first. Making sure that we aren’t making decisions based on financial fear, greediness, or judgmental attitudes. If we are in a right relationship with God and in right attitudes about money, God will direct us. I agree with the posters who’ve said they’d err to the side of generosity, because that is very Bible-based.

However, I have had situations where I’ve given to supposedly fellow Christians in the church who have lied and mislead me and others about things and behaved in irresponsible manners. I had to discontinue more because I feared for their spiritual lives than that I was being lied to or taken advantage of (my God is my provider and I feel these folks are taking advantage of God more so than me!). It would not be love to allow this person to continue to live in sin and support them in it. They showed no remorse and eventually left the church, probably b/c the “gig was up.” Again, this was within the church so very different than outside as some have mentioned. Read your Bible and know what it says about giving, obey it, and trust the Holy Spirit for your acts of giving whether to a beggar on the street, a missionary visiting your church, or a family member in need!

]]> By: Joy http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-155573 Joy Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:54:11 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-155573 Ok, after rereading the posts, I see that a couple of you mentioned praying for the specific person. Praise the Lord! You are right on - that is one of the single most effective things you can do for people in these situations! God can work miracles in their lives if we will just pray and have faith! Ok, after rereading the posts, I see that a couple of you mentioned praying for the specific person. Praise the Lord! You are right on – that is one of the single most effective things you can do for people in these situations! God can work miracles in their lives if we will just pray and have faith!

]]> By: Joy http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-155568 Joy Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:32:31 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-155568 NOBODY has mentioned praying for these people...right then and there...either with them or as you drive or walk away. "Lord, how can I help this person?" "Lord, what do you want me to say, what do you want me to do?" "Lord, how can I be your hands and feet?" Then go from there. It's really simple when we bring this person before the throne of God...and we listen and be led by His Holy Spirit. People need to know about Jesus (rich or poor) - they need spiritual food. Desperately. That's the bottom line. NOBODY has mentioned praying for these people…right then and there…either with them or as you drive or walk away. “Lord, how can I help this person?” “Lord, what do you want me to say, what do you want me to do?” “Lord, how can I be your hands and feet?” Then go from there. It’s really simple when we bring this person before the throne of God…and we listen and be led by His Holy Spirit. People need to know about Jesus (rich or poor) – they need spiritual food. Desperately. That’s the bottom line.

]]> By: Evette http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-142166 Evette Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:30:03 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-142166 You are correct, not all homeless people are mentally impaired but do you not realize that you have to have an ID of some sort to get any type of government assistance? You have to have an address as well. That would immediately disqualify most displaced people that you say should apply for "social programs". My mother always told me that when you give, you should give from the heart. It does not matter where they are spending it or what they are doing with it. Your job is done because you tried to help. When we start to analyze every situation and every person we are making reasons to NOT give. You are correct, not all homeless people are mentally impaired but do you not realize that you have to have an ID of some sort to get any type of government assistance? You have to have an address as well. That would immediately disqualify most displaced people that you say should apply for “social programs”. My mother always told me that when you give, you should give from the heart. It does not matter where they are spending it or what they are doing with it. Your job is done because you tried to help. When we start to analyze every situation and every person we are making reasons to NOT give.

]]> By: Art http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-139388 Art Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:35:06 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-139388 Not all homeless people are mentally impaired and they do know how to access social programs. The majority of the are on public assistance programs. The turly disabled or mentally impaired people need help but those with drug/alcohol addictions or those who don't want to work but to to be unproductive members of society shouldn't be encouraged to continue that. Not all homeless people are mentally impaired and they do know how to access social programs. The majority of the are on public assistance programs. The turly disabled or mentally impaired people need help but those with drug/alcohol addictions or those who don’t want to work but to to be unproductive members of society shouldn’t be encouraged to continue that.

]]> By: Billy http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-138350 Billy Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:07:07 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-138350 2 Thessalonians (3:10) "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Many times I have had people walk up and ask me for money for gas or food. Usually when they see my work truck. They always have a good story and they always seem sincere. I always offer them work. Some have taken the work and gotten paid some have just left and said nothing more. One of the most memorable times was a Man in his 30's who was said he was from the next state over and that he has his wife and kids with him and that they were sitting on the side of the Interstate alone in a Car that was out of gas. I replied " Come get in the Truck, I will buy a gas jug and fill it with gas and we will go and get them off of the side f the road!" (I was in the middle of a Job) He said that they had left the car and went to a hotel close by! I then told him that since they were safe that he could work and earn some money. He agreed and he worked for about an Hour and a half And i paid him double wages for the time that he worked and Told him I would give him a ride anywhere he wanted to go. He hesitated and then agreed! As we were going down the road he requested more money because the $30 that I had given him was not enough to get him back home. I told him that I had help all I could as far as money but I would gladly take him to the store and buy a jug for him to use and That I would take him to his car after we got gas. He Replied "No just take me right up here and this lady at this house said she would help me" So I dropped him off there. And went on down the road and had to turn around (was dead end) I saw him in the rear view mirror the entire time he walked past 3 homes and never stopped at any. So I do not give to any person who just asks for money. I give to some who do not ask at all if I feel that they need it. I will still allow people to earn money. I will find something for them to do to earn the money that I give even if it carries no value to anything other than for them to earn 2 Thessalonians (3:10)
“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

Many times I have had people walk up and ask me for money for gas or food. Usually when they see my work truck. They always have a good story and they always seem sincere. I always offer them work. Some have taken the work and gotten paid some have just left and said nothing more.

One of the most memorable times was a Man in his 30′s who was said he was from the next state over and that he has his wife and kids with him and that they were sitting on the side of the Interstate alone in a Car that was out of gas. I replied ” Come get in the Truck, I will buy a gas jug and fill it with gas and we will go and get them off of the side f the road!” (I was in the middle of a Job) He said that they had left the car and went to a hotel close by! I then told him that since they were safe that he could work and earn some money. He agreed and he worked for about an Hour and a half And i paid him double wages for the time that he worked and Told him I would give him a ride anywhere he wanted to go. He hesitated and then agreed! As we were going down the road he requested more money because the $30 that I had given him was not enough to get him back home. I told him that I had help all I could as far as money but I would gladly take him to the store and buy a jug for him to use and That I would take him to his car after we got gas. He Replied “No just take me right up here and this lady at this house said she would help me” So I dropped him off there. And went on down the road and had to turn around (was dead end)

I saw him in the rear view mirror the entire time he walked past 3 homes and never stopped at any.

So I do not give to any person who just asks for money. I give to some who do not ask at all if I feel that they need it. I will still allow people to earn money. I will find something for them to do to earn the money that I give even if it carries no value to anything other than for them to earn

]]> By: Rach http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-138174 Rach Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:37:16 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-138174 The Bible states is VERY plainly. Jesus said "Give to the one who asks". Why do people make excuses to go against what Jesus said? The Bible states is VERY plainly. Jesus said “Give to the one who asks”. Why do people make excuses to go against what Jesus said?

]]> By: Maria http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-137604 Maria Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:41:24 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-137604 Amen! Diva Jean. Right on! I love your response. I've been so convicted to help people on the side of the road and its been hard to keep on driving when Holy Spirits saying, "Help him! I put him right in your path today." Theres a reason why we have a panicky feeling in our gut and are waiting for the light to turn green so we can drive on by. Being a woman it can be hard to approach people, but Your words are a good reminder. Thanks for being a confirmation today. Amen! Diva Jean. Right on! I love your response. I’ve been so convicted to help people on the side of the road and its been hard to keep on driving when Holy Spirits saying, “Help him! I put him right in your path today.” Theres a reason why we have a panicky feeling in our gut and are waiting for the light to turn green so we can drive on by. Being a woman it can be hard to approach people, but Your words are a good reminder. Thanks for being a confirmation today.

]]> By: Sherri http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-134660 Sherri Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:00:42 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-134660 Stephen, I agree with you that it is not our place to judge anyone. My small town doesn't see a lot of people stopping you on the street for money. But as treasurer for our church we do have a lot of people stopping by for help with utilities. We always help and send them to our local ministerial asoc. for help also. I do have a problem giving to people if I know they are capable of work and won't work. Or change their livestyle - some don't want to give up the cable to pay a water bill. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices. It's a shame that there are kids who go to bed hungry in this country, but how we solve that is hard when their parents use the money for drugs. I hurt for people and if there is a fellow on the road with a sign, I just about all the time give if I can stop (due to traffic). It's a tough situation but I'm like you, if they use the money incorrectly, it's on them. And who knows what that act of kindness might do for someone. I think it's best to give except when we know for sure the money is being misused. Stephen, I agree with you that it is not our place to judge anyone. My small town doesn’t see a lot of people stopping you on the street for money. But as treasurer for our church we do have a lot of people stopping by for help with utilities. We always help and send them to our local ministerial asoc. for help also. I do have a problem giving to people if I know they are capable of work and won’t work. Or change their livestyle – some don’t want to give up the cable to pay a water bill. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices. It’s a shame that there are kids who go to bed hungry in this country, but how we solve that is hard when their parents use the money for drugs. I hurt for people and if there is a fellow on the road with a sign, I just about all the time give if I can stop (due to traffic). It’s a tough situation but I’m like you, if they use the money incorrectly, it’s on them. And who knows what that act of kindness might do for someone. I think it’s best to give except when we know for sure the money is being misused.

]]> By: stephen http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-133204 stephen Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:26:32 +0000 http://christianpf.com/dont-give-to-the-poor/#comment-133204 i have two more things to say, im sorry i keep talking if you dont like my pov. first, please respond to my message i want to know what you think. second, we are all sinners, by the grace of god some of us were allowed to see our detrimental ways before they brought us to rock bottom. some of us were clouded, through our experiences, to not be able to see our sinful ways and repent. we live in a fallen world. i always ask myself, if i were in their shoes would i want this strangers grace? and the answer is always a just one. i have two more things to say, im sorry i keep talking if you dont like my pov.
first, please respond to my message i want to know what you think.
second, we are all sinners, by the grace of god some of us were allowed to see our detrimental ways before they brought us to rock bottom. some of us were clouded, through our experiences, to not be able to see our sinful ways and repent. we live in a fallen world. i always ask myself, if i were in their shoes would i want this strangers grace? and the answer is always a just one.

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