Drawing the Line

Yesterday a stranger asked me for money to eat. I asked him a question and he was completely honest with me. I hooked the brother up and he was genuinely grateful. I walked away thanking God for my blessings.

Today the junkie mother of a former neighbor showed up at my place. Her eyes were constricted and she rambled on, blaming everyone for her “homelessness” and current demise. I discarded her attempts for any assistance.

Thoughts?

I've occasionally offered to take someone to a fast food resterant or in Vegas, a buffet. I'd rather make sure they really get something to eat than enable an addiction. I've been turned down. Once I offered a guy my own brown bag lunch and was turned down. Oh well

It's hard to know who to help. I lent my phone to someone to make an emergency call which was legitimate and they used the opportunity to steal my credit cards that were tucked in the cover of my phone. Very disappointing.

I'll feed somebody by bringing them food but won't give them money or let them get in my vehicle. We have a lot of highway exits where I live where people stand with signs saying they're homeless. It's the same people every single day all day long all summer long. I feel conflicted about them but figure they could have done something better for themselves than standing at an intersection for weeks or months.

I would just be careful brother not to let our moral thoughts, or judgement of people get in the way of what we are called to do.
Not saying I don’t do that as well but don’t think we should.

Point very well taken, my brother. I roll with society’s outcasts and usually meet them where they are with love and respect. But you are right, my judgment of her definitely factored in to my decision.

This particular individual is a player with no moral compass or desire to pull up her boot straps. She’s selfish and parasitic. Prayers lifted but wallet closed to this one.

HEB. 5:14.
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Jesus asked the woman at the well for a drink...(even though she might have asked him or assistance) so sometimes you need to get in first.

Homelsseness is real...if people dont have family, many just just have nowhere to go. They depend on the kindness of strangers. Pray for them, but also give them what they need. Food, clothes, a drink.. I wouldnt give money. Thats where I draw the line.

Jesus was homeless for quite some time. He stayed with friends. Sometimes he even camped out at the mount of Olives. He couldnt go back to Galilee. He never asked for money.

Even some charities that ask for money, I dont give money. They ask for credit card number even and expect you to keep funding them every month. They dont know if youve got a job or not, or regular income to be able to sustain them.

I think it would be different if I was rich and had won lotto or something and HAD to give money away. Or got told by God to. I dont usully have spare change on me anyway. You can offer to pay for someone but I wouldnt go giving them money to spend. You dont really have any idea if they will spend it on what they say they will spend it on. Even with some charities they dont spend it on people they are saying they will help, it goes on admin costs to fund the people asking for money, not the people who need it.

Amen, my Lady.

It’s funny but I’m kind of surprised no one has asked how I knew he was being honest. The reason I know he was honest is because I asked him if he was familiar with the local food pantry. He said yes but he wanted a real meal of substance, not crackers, cheese and rice.

I think there is a profound difference between offering help to someone who is a down and out (and probably desperate for real help), and sadly perpetuating someone’s addiction. Although it seems cruel, you did the right thing I think.

Something that comes to my mind is Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God provided the greatest gift of all even when we were at out vilest. He showed us unmerited grace. Aren't we supposed to show that same love to others?
Another Scripture is from Matthew 5, verses 38-48, but specifically vs 42 "Give to the one who asks you"... And verse 7 of chapter 5, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
I will not cast judgement on your decision. My point is that I think we do have to be very careful not to harden our hearts against one made in the image of God. Whether they have made good or bad choices in life they still have value and have basic necessities. God is omnipotent. He is in the redemption business. You never know when He might use some act of selfless love on your part to transform a life. 😊

I just go with what I feel at the time. I've given people small amts...and even bought smokes for people. It feels wrong to buy them alcohol. I mean if you are experiencing delirium tremens I'd do it, but based off an experience I had I wouldn't do it again.


I will share at least one story that things are not always quite so simple:

So, I was heading down to South Georgia for a searching period and a break from my living situation. I had no direction but a place to stay and pretty much gas to get there and food to last the month. Since I had the cash I wasn't going to bum from a food bank (even though that is a thing). I stopped in a random town off the interstate that on a previous searching period attempting to go to Florida with $1000 and just bounce around and see what I found the head gasket blew and totalled the car. So I knew this area by happenstance.

I stopped at a gas station there just because I was strangely curious if I could win against forsyth (as if that was what stopped me) but I thought it would be choice. Get gas and a guy wanted to bum a smoke and I didn't have one, was vaping at that time so I guess he just figured. I did have this gold fishy looking keychain in my pocket that I have no idea how it got there or if it was gold or not. I have had gold items in the past that have come into my possession by happenstance. But anyway, that's what I have. A fish symbol with some scripture or something on it. He took it...and I went back to it.

He then asked me for money for food and how the church was helping him out with a hotel but they were going to be kicked out tomorrow and he needed some food. I was like OK? How about I give you $2 for a loaf of bread (I have like $200 and that's all really for the next 4 weeks). A loaf of bread should easily get you through the day...and then you can go to a food bank at some point. He then said he needed a ride to walmart because it was far. I was quite uneasy about letting a stranger in my car (although I have done this at other times with no suspicion)...Fortunately I crash landed at the same walmart and it was not even a mile away although you couldn't see it from the gas station.

I was like dude it's like right over there...you can walk, it's not far, you go up that street take a right and it's behind those trees. Pretty much in eyesight without the trees. He gets extremely angry and storms off.



A loaf of bread is fair? You can't do much with $2 but you can eat if a grocery store is nearby. I've offered to buy peanuts for people that are "starving" also. Peanuts are 2/$1. It's enough to get me by the extreme edge of hunger (when I neglect myself) but I get turned down.



I have a few other pretty interesting stories of helping people out. That one interested me because I just so happened to stop and just happened to know the area.


You have to be smart with people. I ask them to be honest. That's not a lot to ask for...I get pride but that's my rule. 9/10 it's a scam...but I exercise discernment. That's all I think the Lord really asks for.

If you are being conned usually they will not have patience. They are looking to see if the lie is believed and to "score". If you do a little bit of detection, most attempts will be countered. It's hard in the heat of the moment though I understand. Fortunately I've only had one violent experience in a fast food restaurant with an I guess homeless person. Well, it could have turned violent but it didn't. Certainly were threats, because I didn't give him two dollars and only offered him 1. We are at Mcdonalds...it has a dollar menu?!??

Be courteous but don't get trampled.

There's a tiny bit more to the last MCD experience. Figured I'd add that for integrity. I wasn't exactly "in the clear" but the brutality of the shift was shocking.