beggers

starfield · Jul 3, 2009

Giving is a good measure but as the old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life", you can't always give, at some point they've got to help themselves and be independent. They should find a job or at least help them find a job.

Some of them use the money given to them for cigarette and drugs (things of no profit)...so how can you help a man who is not willing to help himself?

markhelp · Jul 3, 2009

I was just in Iowa visiting my two kids who are both in their mid twenties.
During my visit, I had three people come up to me and ask me for "spare change" and one guy asked me if I would give him two bucks.
The two people who asked for spare change, I gave them "spare change."
The guy who asked for two bucks, I gave him a five dollar bill and told him to bring me the change....which he did.....and he wished me a happy Father's Day.
I don't usually do this...........I usually give people more than they ask for.

My greatest example was "Uncle Harry" as we called him.
He owned a furniture store. One day a fella down on his luck walked into Uncle Harry's furniture store and asked for money to get something to eat. Uncle Harry closed the store and walked him over to the restaurant and bought him whatever he wanted to eat. Uncle Harry also noticed the man's shoes were worn out and he had no coat [and it was cold outside]. So Uncle Harry bought the man a new coat and a new pair of shoes.......then put twenty dollars in the man's pocket and said, "The Lord bless you, brother."
I get tears in my eyes when I think about that.

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 3, 2009

starfield said:

I can tell you have never been on the streets,
A large amount of people on the streets are on SSI and are disabled.
There are a lot of US vets that are holding signs on street corners!
Most of these people can not afford to rent an apartment, by themselves!
In the state of Washington a person on SSI makes 623.00 a month to live on.
Rents there for a studio start out 400.00 to 500.00.
In California a person gets 850.00 and in Jan.09 it was 907.00 in California they could cut it all the way down to 623. coming up here real soon if the State keeps having problems.

And by the way, do you buy junk food?
Chips, cookies, ect.........
Do you buy coffee or soda? (things of no profit)

Better yet!

Are you yourself without sin?
Be careful not to choose what you think about people, but choose to think what God says about them. Do not judge by what you see only God knows a persons heart! We are to love. Love is patient, love is kind, you know, do unto others!

You are to love a man who can not help himself, be patient, be kind,
we are to bear each others burdens and lift each other up, not judge them and put them down. We all know where we need to change, let God change them as you love them. Love never fails! We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves!

Do you think in the story of the good Samaritan that the man could help himself as he lay on the side of the road? Which person do you think you fit in this story?

You and I are no different than them because we all fall short!

Who dare say, They are without sin!

There is only one without sin, Jesus!

Shawn1313 · Jul 3, 2009

pickles said:

This one has troubled me for along time. We all have seen them, people stading on corners with signs asking for help, money,food. Scripturelly I am torn. We are told to help those in need but also not to through your pearls before swine. The reason I say swine is because I wont explain why but I know why many of these people are out there. Most are serious drug abusers and many more serious moral issues. I am still drawn to help despite there historys as I believe Jesus would have given to them. But I still struggle with this. What scripture can you share or what are your feelings on this. I dont think there is a wrong answer , that we must trust in Jesus on this, just woulld love to know how you feel. God bless, pickles

What you can do is donate your time to homeless shelters and the like.

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 4, 2009

Shawn1313 said:

Or find out what it's like to love your neighbor as yourself, you don't need to go to a shelter for that!
Homeless and poor people are in your own neighborhoods, right outside your own doors! I think if people would get out of their churches and get to know their own neighbors, they will find more ministry that makes a difference.
I think we should give freely, like the Word says too, and it will be given back to you pressed down and running over, but if you fail to give you receive what you have given also pressed down, with the same measurement you give or don't give.

Only God knows a mans heart, and He tells us to give, so there must be more to it!
There is power in giving when mixed with faith and love!
If you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me!
Remember Love is patient, love is kind 1Cor.13

imoss · Jul 4, 2009

starfield said:

My exact words until about 6 years ago & then somehow someway I had a change of heart. Now my heart goes out to those on the street... so many... so many. We went to vancouver and everytime we'd go for a walk the boys & I would hand out hamburgers i felt so bad for these people. they shut down the mental institution in the early 90's and where exactly did the government think they'd go?? they dont have the money or the capcity to maintain their meds so they end up delusional or self medicating with alcohol or other... my heart absolutely breaks when i go down there & i feel too much. Others just had a bad shake, teens escaping worse treatment than the streets could ever dish out, some just lost their jobs and guess what, mcdonalds doesnt quite cut er when you need so much to get into a place. I'm thankful i live in the bush and dont have to see and feel like i do when i'm down there, for i may become desensitized as i'm sure is inevitable when you walk these streets every day. I wish i could be of more help to people like miss Molly who sits in the fetal position with a sign that says "sincerely molly". These are people. These are people.
Reminds me of a story my uncle told me. his friend was downtown (in the north) and an obvious homeless man came up to him and asked for a specific amount of money in a drunken demeanor. my uncles friend said he didnt have it when he did. quick as a flash the man was sober as a judge and with clear sober eyes said to him... I AM. his friend thought about this for a minute then turned to try to give him something & realized he was gone.

Geo_Rivero · Jul 4, 2009

Giving is a good measure but as the old saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life",

I think the concept of this is good. Do something to help someone get on there feet. I met many homeless folks when I was living in S. Florida. And there is a real drug and alcohol problem there with homeless folks. I am just thinking that buy giving these folks money with no way to help them break that cycle, we are very much just feeding an addiction. Which is why the Christian homeless shelters there suggest to give homeless folks clothes, food or vouchers for such.

On the other hand there are some folks who are clean and really are just trying to survive. I think we can very much help these folks alittle more. I just wonder what we can do help someone over the long run vs just give them a few dollars here and there.

As for homeless vets and disabled folks that is a negative mark on my nation and there really should be something done about it. We should require the government to do more to keep these folks of the street. But if these vets are able to work, then they should dig deep for that soldiers perseverance which is instilled in all of us soldiers and find away to pick themselves up. Once a soldier they will always have that in their hearts they just must find it again.

Thaddaeus · Jul 4, 2009

I used to be very generously with beggers, there is a hard kind of love though and if we think they are just buying more drugs or another drink are we really helping, the gospel tract was a good ideal , but a friend suggested this ideal, I haven't seen it mentioned in here so I want to share it with you all. Buy gift certificates from a fast food joints, and give them out I have actually saw some beggers turn them down said they didn't want that, they just needed a few dollars. now I live by the thought that what I do is on me and if I give a begger money and he does use it for evil than thats on him, but this way I can be sure I am not helping their evil habits. of course they could always sell the gift cert. for cash i suppose. but atleast they will have to do a little for themselves that way . Being good stewards with what God has given us, is also a bibical principal as well as charity. is helping someone buy drugs or another drink being good stewards? now, Aliciaforjesus I am not saying that all beggers are drunks and druggies, but if we don't know I would rather be save than sorry.

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 4, 2009

I myself have taken many of these people into my own home getting them off the streets.
I help them get cleaned up!
I have had many give their hearts to the Lord and get their feet back on the ground.

Just becoming a friend works wonders!

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 4, 2009

Thaddaeus said:

It is good to use wisdom in your giving, I would not give my money to someone I though was going to get drunk unless the Lord made me see things the way He see them.

I would rather be know for my giving freely than for hesitating because I stopped long enough to judge a person by what you think, by the way they look.
God see your Heart when you give, and what the other person does with the money is between them and God.
You are held to your decision and the choice you made to give or not!

Nothing you do for the Lord is done in vain!

MahogonySnail · Jul 4, 2009

I usually dont think what they might do with it.

I give on the basis of giving to them for what they say it is for. Not on the basis of what I think they will do with it. What they do with it is their business not mine.

MahogonySnail · Jul 4, 2009

Most of the time it is not that they want money to buy drink or smokes, it's that they've already spent the money they get from the government on those things, and need a feed.

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 5, 2009

I don't know if any of you know this, but because of the economy many people out there holding signs now are people who have lost their houses and jobs. The numbers at the homeless shelters is crazy.

Two years ago I started working with people who stay at the tent city here in Fresno and the numbers of people in the last year have not only doubled, but is growing everyday. It is like a third world country in downtown Fresno.
There are more families out there now, it's not all about the drug addict anymore, it's about people like me and you!

Slepsog4 · Jul 5, 2009

Mahogany,

QUESTION: So then, why should we feed a legit need when they have income but waste it on addictions?

Slepsog4 · Jul 5, 2009

Alicia wrote:

HOW MANY?

You could supply the stats on what the reasons are for people being in that situation.

How many are mentally ill and displaced?
How many have chosen to be their?
How many are perpetual addicts?
How many are normal folks in a touch spot?

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 5, 2009

Slepsog4 said:

The thing they need is Jesus, so use giving and filling a need to share Jesus, share your love with them, This is what we need to do, to obey the word of God, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

How can they be set free unless we share our love with them the way the Lord has loves us, undeserved favor!
If you want undeserved favor than sow it to the least of these and watch your own deliverance and healing come quickly!
It's all about laying your own wants, needs and judgments down, and lining them up with love, for God is Love!
We are not saved by the Law, so why do we always put this burden on others and cast stones at people, it's not good!
We are to not judge and we must be careful not to call unclean what God might call clean.
Plus you never know what tomorrow might hold for any of us, we could end up on the streets too.
Paul talks about many sleepless nights, times of hunger, and many times homeless.

Jesus was homeless!
He had no place to lay His head!

Would any of you, if God asked you too, be homeless?
What if God told you to hold a sign for one of these people, would you do it?

It might be good for some of you, to see reality and truth about things!
It not all about you and what you think,

It's about loving God with all your heart, and loving others, the same way He loves us. Are you willing to put your life down to save someone from their sins, loving them even though they fall short! What you sow you reap, right?
Sow Grace mixed with love it never fails.
It is Jesus who saves when we obey what we are commanded to do, Love your neighbor as yourself.
If we love God and put Him first, and love our neighbor as ourselves, all the Blessings and promises work. Your joy will bubble over, and you becoming living water to those around you.
It is a choice to look past the sins we see in others but it is not up to us to judge,
It is up to us to Love and obey God to Love!

MahogonySnail · Jul 6, 2009

Maybe the addiction is their need, or vice versa. I don't mind if they buy alcohol:

Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Aliciaforjesus · Jul 6, 2009

MahogonySnail said:

Jesus was willing to die for the sinner and we are still in our own sins,
Are you without sin Yet?
It is because of what Jesus did, He is the one without sin!

Do you realize what happens when you judge a persons worthiness of salvation, you loose yours.
By the fruit of your own lips, you take the cross and make it by works making the cross of no effect, it is no longer Grace!
We have been free from the law of sin and death, why do we put people under the Law, if we ourselves are not able to live by it!

So if He died for you, could you lay your own life down for others who are still in theirs, and like Jesus and the Father be willing to not look at the sins, but at the heart.

Jesus said if He washes your feet, the dirties part, than you are clean!

It is not by our own worthiness that we are saved, it is because of Jesus!
It is His blood shed for you and them!
He is willing to love us through all of our sins, and free us one sin at a time!
He is willing to do what it takes for us, we should be willing to do the same for others.

MahogonySnail this is not directed to you, it just came out and I went with it!

MahogonySnail · Jul 6, 2009

OK Alicia, I thought you were replying to my post.

I just want to check some of these statements against scripture though if you don't mind...

But remember scripture says we (Christians) are not still in our own sins.
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
We are alive in Christ, raised with Him.

I thought you believed that you cannot lose salvation? You can lose it? Well don't say it too loudly, the eternal security believers will pounce hehe.

Jesus said they were already clean by the Word spoken to them (John 15:3). Except for Judas. Even though his feet were washed, it did not make him clean.

sweetnshy · Jul 7, 2009

I don't like handing over cash to homeless people simply because I never know whether they will use it for something that they need, like food, or whether they'll buy drugs or beer with it. I think this is yet another reason to tithe to the church. Part of my church's tithes go to the salvation army, the soup kitchen, and a few different homeless shelters. So rather than handing over cash to a homeless person, I give the money to my church and know that it will go toward helping people on the streets. Another good option is to buy food or blankets or things like that to give to homeless people. If they really are just in bad circumstances and trying to get by, they'll be grateful for those things because that's what they would spend the money on if you gave them cash. If they say they don't want it and ask you for cash instead, then I'd say there's a pretty good bet that they would use the money for beer or drugs.

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