Should Christians Give Money To The Poor?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
33
#2
Excuse # 3 “I don’t have a lot of money”

This excuse seems to be all the more reason to give, with a proper understanding of scripture. "Give and you shall recieve" comes to mind and if someone says they don't have enough to give, aren't they looking at it without faith? "Those that sow sparingly shall reap sparingly, and those that sow bountifully shall reap bountifully." The idea that one cannot give because they are in lack need to come to a place of faith to where they know that giving isnt subtracting from what they have but expanding.

Proverbs 11:24-25
There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

 

Jon4TheCross

Senior Member
Oct 19, 2012
1,864
7
38
#3
There is an example if you study the first works, and first love of the body of Christ (the whole chapter of Acts 2)

If we do this (the first works with the first love), then helping the poor is a bi product.

Act_2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act_4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
 
M

MarkayMrk777

Guest
#4
New Living Translation (©2007)
If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD--and he will repay you!
Proverbs 19:17

God blesses us, so that we may bless others!
 
N

needmesomejesus

Guest
#5
In this day and time, we have to be careful not to be scammed to give money to a "poor" person who is just asking. I like to give my money to my church and allow those in authority to properly distribute it.
Also I'd rather give my time to help the homeless or others in need rather than give money.
 

Jon4TheCross

Senior Member
Oct 19, 2012
1,864
7
38
#6
Luk 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
 

Jon4TheCross

Senior Member
Oct 19, 2012
1,864
7
38
#7
Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
 
Nov 22, 2012
626
2
0
#8
When Abba Agathon went down to the city to sell some of his baskets and to procure a little bread, he found near the market place an old, poor cripple. "For the love of God, Abba," the cripple began to plead on seeing the Saint, "don't you, too, leave this poor wretch unaided. Bring me near to you."
Abba Agathon picked the man up and sat him next to him in the place where he had set up his baskets to sell them.
'How much money did you make, Abba?' the cripple would ask each time that the Elder sold a basket.
"Such and such," the Elder would tell him.
"That's good enough," the cripple finally said. "Won't you buy me a little pie, Abba? That would be good of you, since I have not eaten since last evening."
"With pleasure," the Saint told him, immediately fulfilling the cripple's request.
Shortly thereafter, the cripple requested some fruit. And then some sweet. Thus, for each basket that was sold, the Saint spent the proceeds, until, thanks to his patronage, all of the baskets and money were gone, without his having kept even two pennies for himself. More importantly, he did this all with great eagerness, even though he knew that he would thus go perhaps two weeks without any bread for himself.
Since he had sold his last basket, the Saint got ready to leave the marketplace.
"So you're going?" the cripple asked him.
"Yes, I have completed all of my work."
"Uh, do me the favor of taking me as far as the crossroads, and you can leave for the desert from there," the strange old man again pleadingly said.
The good Agathon took the cripple on his back and carried him to the place where he wanted to go, though with great difficulty, since he was exhausted from his day's work.
As soon as he reached the crossroads and started to put down his living burden, he heard a sweet voice say to him:
"May you be blessed, Agathon, by God, both on earth and in Heaven."
The Saint raised up his eyes to see who it was who had spoken with him. The would-be old man had completely disappeared, since he was an Angel sent by God to test the Saint's love.



The Desert Fathers
 
F

flight316

Guest
#9
A man should work. The bible says, if you don't work you don't eat. If I can I will provide the need ( food, clothes, etc. ) Rarely will I give someone money, because I work too hard to earn my wages.
 
W

wordhelpsme

Guest
#10
At a time when I watched so many friends and family lose the jobs, homes etc. I found it necessary to donate money to them. They work all their lives only to see all the worked hard for disappear so quickly. Many went into their retirement to stay afloat. They had applications, as most who lost jobs, everywhere. My brother could not get hired at Mc Donalds. He did odd jobs which could not cover is food and bills. Helping him financially (as well as others) was not a problem when I had the means. The scripture at 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says: For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” NIV Those who do not want to work with the opportunity to work, the lazy, I am not interested in taking care of. When I was not a christian I help people, all the more as a christian I should help those if I can.
 

starfield

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2009
3,393
58
48
#11
Sure we should give money to the needy if we are being led to; give and it shall be given unto you. It can also be a great opportunity to share the gospel. However, like the saying goes "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime", if one can invest time and effort in helping the needy find jobs and fend for themselves financially, that would be a great approach.
 

von1

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2010
1,527
1,385
113
60
#12
My church as a local missions. We help people in the commuity with food and other things. We pray with these people and invite them to church.
 
K

Kefa52

Guest
#13
In this day and age be careful, but do give. There is a fine line between helping, and enabeling someone.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#15
A man should work. The bible says, if you don't work you don't eat. If I can I will provide the need ( food, clothes, etc. ) Rarely will I give someone money, because I work too hard to earn my wages.

You DO realize there are more reasons than plain laziness that can cause someone not to work (..enough to earn what they need for food, clothes and a roof), right?
 

Nautilus

Senior Member
Jun 29, 2012
6,488
53
48
#16
I refuse to give money to them at all. If there is a need and I can meet it thought I will provide that need whether it be food, clothing, etc. But I will straight up buy them food or whatnot, I dont trust people enough that what they say they need is what they will buy.
 
N

nathan3

Guest
#17
I don't see anything wrong with it. I think everyone should do as they feel led . I try to see it this way. If I was between a rock and a hard place; I would want help. I think, once this life is over me an the poor dude is going to be going to the same place, and I'm going to be like, sorry I didn't help you out, I know you were in trouble, but, you know, I wanted that new video game that just came out, or I was trying to get that brand new paint job on my car.You lost your home and was on the streets and was having a ruff go at it, so sorry . Hope you will forgive me an all, after all we have to live together for an eternity : / You know people could use help at times.I like this quote from the Gladiator : What we do in life echoes in Eternity.

I'm not going to play 20 Questions with some one in need. All I know is, if they ask for help , they must need it. But I guess how you help is another thought. If you give a poor man/woman with a drug addition money; they are going to use that money on drugs. Then you just became an enabler of their evil deeds. But if you give them food, or shelter, that's another thing, maybe. Some would say that is a form of enabling too. But the alternative is suffering on their part. We have to have compassion for people in hard times. If its possible I think it can be a good thing . This reminds me of Christ teaching, He says; give a man a fish, he eats for a day.Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a life time. God also says, he hates lazy people. I'm not talking handy caped people. But, God said this, and it might play a part in why people end up were they are for some, not all. If a man does not work, he should not eat.And its a true. There is this saying in the Bible, God teaches; That a lazy person is like a door hinge. Only they are hinged to a bed, they flop from one side to another.: ) Kinda funny actually : / I like to help people out if I am in a position to do it. And if I feel led.
 
Last edited:
N

needmesomejesus

Guest
#18
A man should work. The bible says, if you don't work you don't eat. If I can I will provide the need ( food, clothes, etc. ) Rarely will I give someone money, because I work too hard to earn my wages.
What about all the people who desire to work, but don't have the means?
 
N

needmesomejesus

Guest
#19
I don't believe it is my place to decide whether someone is truly using the money I give them well. CAuse I give to the church and the staff could be using the money for themselves, but that's on them not me. I believe it is the same if I were to give a homeless person money; if they buy drugs, that's between them and God. But I rarely give money to the homeless people when I'm driving cause that is plain dangerous.
 
J

jo_ptrp

Guest
#20
i think it would be better if you give money for a livelihood projects for the poor...the results will be long term
.