I am sure you have seen people on the street asking for money. Sometimes the person has a sign that they hold up. Sometimes there is a child with them, or a pet. Sometimes the person is disabled. They wait in busy intersections and ask people in stopped cars to give them money. Or maybe they are in a busy parking lot. I came across a man not too long ago in a parking lot asking people who drove by for money. As I said, this is fairly commonplace.
But what is the Christian response to this? Should we ignore these people? Should we give them what they ask for? Or should we do something in-between?
Let’s start by seeing what insights the bible can give us. Here is a passage from Deuteronomy that might be appropriate:
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
This passage seems to suggest that we should give to people in need. I do want to point out though, that the concept of “lending” money is used instead of gifts. Those who lend money do so with the expectation that they will get their money back at a later date, often with interest. Cleary that is not the case here. Also, if you are confused about the “seventh year” language, understand that the Israelites had a Jubilee year every seven years where debts were forgiven.
Here is another passage that might be insightful:
Thessalonians 3:7-10
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
This passage goes the other way doesn’t it? The one who doesn’t want to work doesn’t eat.
This could be a much simpler debate if we always knew how any given money was spent. Most of the time we won’t know. But there are several stories of people begging for money who did it as a sham. One notable story came out of San Diego in November 2014, where a pregnant woman and her young son were begging for money in a shopping center parking lot. The local news reported the two of them were seen leaving the parking lot later in a Mercedes-Benz. Someone actually followed them and noticed them setting up shop at a McDonalds, getting more money from people who thought they needed it.
What do you think of that story? Is it the norm? Does it matter that some people do this? Does it matter that some (most?) people use the money for alcohol or other drugs? Should we give anyway?
There is a story from the famous Christian author C. S. Lewis on this topic.
“One day, Lewis and a friend were walking down the road and came upon a street person who reached out to them for help. While his friend kept walking, Lewis stopped and proceeded to empty his wallet. When they resumed their journey, his friend asked, ‘What are you doing giving him your money like that? Don’t you know he’s just going to go squander all that on ale?’ Lewis paused and replied, ‘That’s all I was going to do with it.’”
How much money do beggars make, anyway? The amount varies of course, but a study in 2020 found the average rate of panhandling to be about $200-$500 USD per month. This isn’t as good as minimum wage, so why do people do it? Why not just get a minimum wage job and make more? Maybe it is because they don’t believe they can get a job. Or maybe it is because this is an easier way to get untaxable income.
What would you do if a street beggar had a sign that read “Please give money. I need it to buy drugs”? Would you give money to this person? Do we get to be the judge of how beggars spend the money we give them?
I was walking in a big city once and came across a man asking for money so he could eat. I offered him a taco I had just bought from a restaurant, but the man refused saying “I don’t want your taco.” I found that very interesting.
So what should we do? Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not sure there is a one-size-fits-all answer to this. But here is what I have decided to do for now. I will buy a gift card from a popular restaurant or grocery store and keep it in my car. If anyone asks me for money that is what I will give them. They can use it to get a meal.
Is this a perfect system? No it isn’t. But at least I am giving them the opportunity to have something to eat. That is what I did for the man at the parking lot the other day. I hope it was the right thing to do. I will probably never know.
God Bless