Hitting a nerve.
So last week I posted on ignoring a homeless beggar that I saw on the side of the interstate when coming into work. He was young, comfortably dressed, and smoking. I chose to ignore him and not give him money because in one hand he held a sign that said, “Hungry – Please Help,” and in the other was a lit cigarette.
He chose smoking over food.
I think many of you felt the same way I feel – struggles and all. This is what some of you said:
Andrea: “In those moments I have to think not of the earthly person “begging†but of the Heavenly Father who for whatever reason has allowed them to cross my path that day. For me to keep driving (and I sometimes do) would move me one step further from being the life of love that I so desire to live. Whether they need it or not is none of my concern.”
Dave Sandell: “I used to have similar struggles with this issue, and after much soul-searching, I think what’s most important is that I believe Jesus works with your heart’s intent. So if you give the beggar with a cigarette $5, you’ve given Jesus $5.”
jwagnerdsm: “Regarding professional beggers, they provide a service by assuaging our guilt about not doing more to help the poor by making it easy to slip ‘em a few bucks and then get on with our uncomplicated lives.”
It looks like a lot of you have experienced this phenomenon of beggars and the struggles that follow. My question today is this, “does it really matter if they use the money we might give them for food or shelter or cigarettes?” In other words, even if they say they will use the money for food and instead go and use it to buy a beer/cigarettes/meth, etc., should that really matter?
I seem to be revolving around the fact that those who are truly less fortunate would welcome a hot meal over a few bucks any ol’ day. But, does kindness happen when we give or when what we give is used to benefit said person? In other words, is kindness when I place $5 into the hands of a beggar or does kindness happen when that $5 is used to buy food/beer/cigarettes, etc.? Is it in the act or the benefits of the act?
What do you all think?
Justin – this reminded me of an interesting thing that happened the other day. I was on my way to an early Bible study at church last week and I stopped at HyVee to get some breakfast food for the group.
I was running a little late, but on my way in to the store I noticed a $5 bill laying just off the sidewalk right next to a shrub. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t really stop to think about it until I was on my way out of the store and I saw the $5 bill again.
I kind of slowed down and a couple of things crossed my mind:
1. Is this some kind of joke – you know those fake 1 million dollar bills that have some kind of Bible verse on the back that is supposed to instantly convert you when you pick up the fake bill and read it?
2. Am I on some kind of hidden camera show and is there someone in the bushes waiting to jump out at me when I pick up the $5 bill?
3. And finally (sorry to say this was the last thing that crossed my mind), can I pick up this $5 bill and maybe give it to someone less fortunate that might need it more than I do? I think God was nudging me on this one.
Well, I decided that it was only $5 and since I didn’t want to run the risk of ending up on some hidden camera show, I just kept walking, although feeling rather guilty. But hey – it was only $5 so why did it bother me?
Well I got the answer about 10 minutes later when I pulled off the Interstate at Jordan Creek Parkway. On the corner was a man, much like the one you described, with a sign detailing his current employement and financial status.
Immediately I knew that I had made the wrong decision and felt that God had sort of thrown me the equivalent of a sucker punch right to the gut.
A couple of things as I think about this –
1 – Look at the danger of being so busy that we don’t slow down and take the time to listen to what God is telling us…
2 – I agree with Dave Sandell’s comment above. We can relax and let God sort it out!
Anyhow, I really enjoy reading your blog posts and I did catch you on WOW FM a couple of weeks back. Great interview and it was nice to hear such a balanced perspective and I think the atheist guy that was on there really appreciated your respect for him and honestly I think you caught him so off-guard that he might have left the studio with a different perspective of Christians than when he entered.
Keep up the good work. God bless.
Do you really want to know if giving to people with pitiful stories or signs is the right thing to do? i have a sure-fire litmus test that always works for me. when i am asked for money by a person, i let him know that i will be very glad to purchase him whatever he would like to eat. if i have food and no cash with me, i offer him the food. it's amazing what you find out when you do this. most often you will be cursed and sent on your way. sometimes you will be thanked. however, in my scant experience, it is not the bold men with the hand-lettered signs and well-rehearsed stories that need our help, but the mother who is sitting quietly in the DSS office, or the girl standing hunched up next to her car, looking unsure, or the man walking stoically along the road without asking anyone for anything. truly desperate people do not ask strangers for help. it has been ingrained into us that we do not do such things. those are the kind of people i am interested in helping, and it takes a bit of willingness to listen, watch and wait. but when you do, you will see an opportunuity to truly minister to another human.
Do you really want to know if giving to people with pitiful stories or signs is the right thing to do? i have a sure-fire litmus test that always works for me. when i am asked for money by a person, i let him know that i will be very glad to purchase him whatever he would like to eat. if i have food and no cash with me, i offer him the food. it's amazing what you find out when you do this. most often you will be cursed and sent on your way. sometimes you will be thanked. however, in my scant experience, it is not the bold men with the hand-lettered signs and well-rehearsed stories that need our help, but the mother who is sitting quietly in the DSS office, or the girl standing hunched up next to her car, looking unsure, or the man walking stoically along the road without asking anyone for anything. truly desperate people do not ask strangers for help. it has been ingrained into us that we do not do such things. those are the kind of people i am interested in helping, and it takes a bit of willingness to listen, watch and wait. but when you do, you will see an opportunuity to truly minister to another human.
So, I know this was posted forever ago, but I’m just now checking out a good portion of your posts.
From reading other blogs I’ve noticed that this is a topic of concern for a lot of people…it’s a tough one. I know as Christians we are taught to give because we could be hosting an angel or we are giving as unto the Lord. But, I’ve thought a lot about where my husband and I “sow” our money and most of the time I would rather give that extra $5 or $10 to a missionary to or a youth that needs some lunch money at church. They may never ask for it, but that’s when I feel even closer to God…when I am following His lead as to whom I should give to.
By the way my husband grew up in Clarinda, IA and his parents now live in Pella. It made me smile to see one of your readers mention HyVee.