Beggars—Give Or No Give

If you missed it, please click here to read “Pan Handlers”.

We got a lot of comments on our last post about beggars.  All of the comments were different and covered very different sides of the debate.

We didn’t post that story with an answer in mind.  Things were a little bare on the blog last week because we were trying so hard to come up with a good answer.

Should we help beggars on the street?  We still don’t really know, but we did look through the bible, and these are some things that we found to be relevant.

To start with the obvious, it is good to help strangers in need.

In Matthew 25:35, Jesus told the story of the sheep and the goats.  The sheep are those who provided food, drink and hospitality for strangers.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” The sheep will inherit the Kingdom of God.  By helping the poor, we’re helping Jesus.

Several times throughout the gospels, Jesus said things like “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Matthew 19:21

After Jesus came, humans were no longer required to offer sacrifices to God.  In at least one example in the book of Acts, kindness and generosity to the poor replaced a traditional offering to God.  “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:4

To put things bluntly, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

The principle at hand is to redefine the way that we value the poor.

Charity and generosity are simply an outward expression of our inward value for people less than ourselves.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” 1 John 3:17

“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.  Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14

“All (that the apostles) asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I, (Paul), was eager to do.” Galatians 2:10.  This was the deal breaker for the first-century Christian church.

The way that we act towards others who are, according to standards of the world, less than us gives oodles of insight into how we actually feel.

There are guidelines on helping—not everyone needs help.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he gives guidelines on which widows the church should help.  Not all widows were in need or entitled to charity.  He says to “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.”(5:3) Most importantly, if a widow has a family, they should care for her and widows who are young should take care of themselves.

If this is the way Paul instructs the church in regards to widows, what about able-bodied men?

“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10.

We should focus on helping those in our community first.

Our first responsibility is always to those within our Christian community who are truly in need.

The few instances of monetary charity in the New Testament are usually between Christian communities, not to individuals and certainly not to anyone outside of the community.  “For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.” Romans 15:26.

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” Acts 2:45.  The language is somewhat ambiguous here, but it seems like the sharing was amongst those within the community.

Gifts are rarely monetary.

Near the beginning of the book of Acts, Peter and John were walking to the temple in Jerusalem and a crippled beggar asked them for money.  Peter told the man “silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:1-10

When Jesus talked about separating the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31, as discussed earlier), explaining who would get into heaven, he specifically mentions giving strangers food, water, clothes and hospitality.  There is no mention of money.

This isn’t to say that monetary gifts are never appropriate, but their absence from the New Testament should at least attest to their significance.

The primary purpose of giving to others is to demonstrate the love of Jesus.

“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have no love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing for his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead… Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:14-18

“You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11

Our Conclusion?

We have no conclusion.  We do know that we are called by Jesus to be generous.  However, we have also learned that doesn’t mean to give to everyone indiscriminately.  We should give to those within our community who are truly in need of assistance first.

Most importantly, we should remember that the purpose of all of our good deeds is to bring glory to God.

“...Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16—the words of Jesus.

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day...” (John 6:53-54—the words of Jesus) This is the food, drink and shelter that we should seek to provide first of all.

Questions

These are some questions that Melissa and I have been asking ourselves.

Are the poor in America really poor?  They’re certainly poorer than I am, but in comparison to most of the world they’re not too bad off.  Does this change their rights in regard to our charity?

By what practical method can we give to the poor?  How do we make sure our contributions “spread the love of Jesus”?

Are drug addicts and alcoholics incapacitated or handicapped?  Theoretically they could get well and work.  Does giving to them now, with the knowledge that they will use the majority of the funds irresponsibly, constitute causing someone else to sin?

Unfortunately, Jesus never gave good instructions on this.  I’m guessing that’s because the nature of beggars and charity was so much different in that time period.  But together, as a community, we can find reasonable answers that are consistent with the teachings that we do have.

Please leave your thoughts below.  Starter answers to the questions, general thoughts or irrelevant babble will all be gladly accepted.

Comments

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Very well thought out.  Despite not having a final conclusion (and how could you?) your post gives excellent guidelines for those who want to give.