What kind of lifestyle are you enabling if you give to pandhandlers?

Luke 6:30 - Give to everyone who asks you...

except for the beggars, whom are shady, and require extreme discernment.


Deuteronomy 15:11 "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land...

except for those guys on the side of the road. This is a liberal city, they probably don't need it.

 

Not all beggars are beggars.

HankD

 

Does it say to give to all who ask, or give only to those who are worthy based on some kind of litmus test that you make up?

 

Not something I made up but inspired scripture.

... if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Uh, something about wolves in sheep's clothing also.

HankD

 

@Alcott You beat me to it. Heh.

 

Give, but be discerning, give to their need. It doesn't say give cash to everyone who asks, as some of the above posts have mentioned.

If they need food, provide it. If they need shelter, provide it.
Be the good Samaratin and help those in need.

But don't encourage them in their destructive addictions.
Don't feed their depravities.

Give to encourage health in body mind and soul.

Rob

 

That would be about false prophets, not beggars. But, should we not do good to people who we know are probably bad?


If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

 

Matthew

5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


Which part of this says to kick them to the curb if you think they are taking advantage of your generosity? It never says that. Give to whoever asks. Lend and expect nothing in return. Don't fight back against evil people who are using you, just pray for them. If somebody sues you or makes you work, give them twice what they're asking for. There ain't no litmus test here. I'm sorry that you guys don't like the rules but I didn't make them up.

 

I don't give to panhandlers for two reasons

The first is that when we lived in New Jersey the local TV station did a story about a guy who panhandled on the Atlantic City Boardwalk At the end of the day they followed him to his new car and continued to follow him to his home in Moorestown NJ a very wealthy suburb of Philadelphia He was making ore money putting on dirty clothes and begging in an afternoon than I was in a week of hard work

The second is that years later I ended up managing a large regional supermarket and we always had panhandlers at the intersection outside the store I explained to the several ties that our store did on the spot interviews every Wednesday and that they'd probably be hired that day They wouldn't come in for an interview but continued to stand out front and beg

Now when we give it's only to charities and outreaches that require those seeking help to take some kind of responsibility for their recovery

 

Wolves in sheep's clothing is a principal. It's not just prophets but anyone with evil intent towards you.

And as a matter of fact I have done all those things you presented.

But I will not give to a pretender who presents him/herself as needy or perpetuate his/her slothfulness.

But I have (in the past) offered assistance to just those types of individuals.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

HankD

 

Well, the proof is certainly in the doing. Have you sent the 200 bucks to the poster up-thread? In your view, is there no room for discernment with regard to giving when asked?

 

How many times did Jesus say sell everything you have and give to the poor? Did he stutter? Was there some discernment involved? Was there any kind of litmus test that was mentioned? So have you done that?

 

Have you CD? Hmm, still have a computer, maybe you are at a library using a public computer?

HankD

 

I need $1700.00.

HankD