This was submitted by Ronald Huereca from a post on his site.
My views regarding financial charity:
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus talked about three types of people. One was a priest, another a Levite, and another a Samaritan. The priest and Levite saw a beaten man, yet walked on by. The Samaritan took it upon himself to look after the beaten man. Jesus used the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what a good neighbor is really like. Those who take pity on those less fortunate than us are true neighbors.
The Bible instructs over and over again to remember the poor, and to not turn away those in need. Jesus placed such an emphasis on giving to the poor that he called those who refused to help the poor unbelievers.
One point regarding giving to the poor is stewardship. Should we freely give out cash to the random beggar on the street? The choice is ultimately up to you, but I feel it would be better to give to someone you personally know and trust.
My philosophy on giving to random beggars lies within the verse of 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.”
Nathan said:
I have a litmus test that works well for panhandlers for about 10 years now, provided you are prepared to go a little out of your way:
The object is to take control of the situation quickly by offering to meet the person’s need (in a non-monetary way of course). Unfortunately about 80-90% of people walk away from me because I am not giving them the money they need for 1. Food, or 2. a Bus ticket somewhere. Often people get agitated and try to get me emotionally involved/concerned as well. I tell them: “I’m sorry but this is up to you. I can’t give you money but I can give you [a ride or food]. It’s your decision.”
When the other 10-20% are willing to walk with me to my car to take them where they need to go, or let me buy them $10 of groceries, I get tremendously blessed as well and often have the opportunity to pray with them or something.
This is probably not for everybody but I grew up watching my evangelical family ignore the situation, or assume everyone panhandling was a scam artist. This method, while not failsafe, is more effective and hopefully more biblical as well!
Posted on December 7, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Ken said:
Your timing on this post is impeccable. It was last night and my wife went to the local pizza shop to bring home 2 pizzas. She arrived with one. I asked, Honey, I thought you were grabbing 2. She replied, I gave the other one away. Somebody needed it and I didn’t want to give them money and support their bad habit.
I was so proud of her response and I was even happier about us not being gorged on pizza as would have been the case
GREAT series here Shawn!!!
Posted on December 7, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Shawn said:
I remember one time my sister and I were leaving the farmers market downtown and we had gotten a cucumber. But they were 2 for a $1. So we got two.
Then on the way home there was a homeless guy so we rolled down the window and were like, hey this is for you. And we gave him the other cucumber.
He was so excited!
He was jumping up and down and holding that thing like it was a crystal vase. He kept saying “I’m going to eat this! I’m going to eat this!”
Posted on December 7, 2006 at 11:26 pm
Josh said:
A few applauds for this post before I get into the meat of what I want to say.
To the poster: I agree with giving money/aid to people you know and trust. It’s a good start (in the arena of giving) and you can feel good about what your donation is going to support. Plus, as with all things, we are more likely to do more in terms of quantity (how much we give) if we know/trust the person. Would we really give all our money to a bum or a person we know to be shady? Not likely. Great point. However, while it does have its merits in normal society, the verse you quoted is Paul speaking directly to other Christians taking advantage of the religious system, not to random beggars. So that’s a half thumbs-up on that one because, really, we’re supposed to provide for the orphaned, widowed, foreigner and oppressed among us.
To Nathan: that is a really good litmus test. And it lets you actually have a conversation with the person, which is a plus. However, I can’t say it is “more biblical”; where do you find a backing for that? My thoughts on that in a second.
To Ken: way to go (to your wife) for giving away her fish and loaves. Big props to you guys! Your hearts are in the right place.
Now on to my point. Sorry if it’s too long, but I’m long-winded even when I write.
I have to say I disagree with a certain thought process here. I don’t think “choosy giving” is what God had in mind, even though that is what most of us have been taught (usually for reasons of safety).
Let’s sum it up like this: God never told us to only give to certain people. He never said to only give if we believe they will do “right” with it or use it to our liking and approval. He simply said to give just like He gives.
If I give only to those who fit my requirements, I’ve missed the point of Him asking me to give. It’s about my heart and my willingness to follow Him even when it doesn’t add up in my mind or even if they do something completely evil with it; it’s not about their subsequent actions. It’s about me.
My point: where did we get the idea that our giving should only happen when we either “feel lead to give” or when the individual gives us a guarantee that it will be used “correctly”? Yeah, um, let’s not even get into whether they would lie or not.
Or seen from the angle of the other Beatitudes, are we supposed to pray only when we feel lead to pray or when we can get a guarantee that our prayers will have the outcome that we intended? Or, rather, could God’s primary point for prayer have mostly to do with our heart and with us partnering with who He is?
Are we supposed to fast only when we feel lead to fast or when we can get a guarantee that our fasting will have the outcome that we intended? Or, rather, could God’s primary point for fasting have mostly to do with our heart and with us partnering with who He is?
Are we supposed to only bless and forgive others (including our enemies) when we can get a guarantee that our blessing and forgiving will have the outcome that we intended? Or, rather, could God’s primary point for blessing and forgiving have mostly to do with our heart and with us partnering with who He is?
Are we supposed to only serve (including our enemies) when we can get a guarantee that our service and sacrifice will have the outcome (usually that means public applause) that we hoped would come our way? Or, rather, could God’s primary point for serving and sacrificing have mostly to do with our heart and with us partnering with who He is?
Whether we receive Him or not, Jesus has already been given by the Father to mankind. He is not waiting to give Jesus until we either do or promise to do something first; Jesus has already been given and He has no guarantee that every human will accept Him. It is not contingent upon us, and thankfully so because we still mess it up even after the fact. Does God give only when He either “feels lead to give” or when the individual gives Him a guarantee that it will be used “correctly”? And let’s not even get into whether we would lie or not.
Posted on December 8, 2006 at 10:23 am
Abby said:
Josh-
That was good. That was really good.
Posted on December 8, 2006 at 10:40 am
Ruth said:
great talk, really like the posts! And i see what you are saying Josh
My opinion on giving to random beggars is actually really easy. I think we should give them as much as possible the things they need. Most beggars do not need money. They think they need money, but money won’t buy them food because they are so easily tempted to do bad things with the money. I remember one time when I was in Charlotte, NC with a friend of mine..we were downtown and saw so money homeless people (we have them over here in Amsterdam and other big cities as well of course..) but they were so many and there was this guy begging for money, we decided to buy him bread. I wouldn’t trust this guy with one dollar, but I knew he would eat the bread and I know he was hungry and he did eat the bread. So my opinion, I would give them, as much as I can, what they need.
Recently I noticed how great giving to others is. When I read Phillipians 4 I see giving is also related to having fellowship with each other. in Phillipians 4:15 paul called it partnership/fellowship. So i agree with what shawn said about giving to those you know and trust. Giving comes forth out of satisfaction from the inside. When you are satisfied with what you have (even if it is just a little) you’ll be more prone to give because your satisfaction does not come from the money you possess or anything. On the other hand, if you are not satisfied with what you have (always greedy) , even if you are a billionair you won’t spend a dollar on your brother.
Posted on December 8, 2006 at 11:03 am
Ruth said:
umm..correction. agree with Ronald Huereca
Posted on December 8, 2006 at 11:04 am
Ronalfy said:
Good points Josh. You could easily make a blog post out of that.
What I had in mind when I wrote my original post was Hurricane Katrina. I knew somebody that was personally affected by the hurricane, and I would rather give my money directly to that person rather than to a charity where I didn’t know where the money was going to go.
I agree with all the comments about giving something besides money to beggars. I can see how buying groceries, food, or giving a ride to someone is just as charitable.
Thanks for all the comments on this post. I appreciate them.
Posted on December 8, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Josh said:
Ronalfy … blog … I did … and I took more liberties and delved into it a bit more on my own blog. And, again, I agree with giving to trusted sources (our household gives to trusted sources more than anything else), but even trusted sources can have lapses in judgment or other priorities than what we imagine is important for them. There’s no guarantee our earmarked cash will go expressly for our intended purposes, whether it’s a friend, a charity or a random beggar; it makes no difference. Which is the point where this whole “donate only to certain types” theory breaks down for me. I just can’t see it actually playing out A to Z like we want it to. But, like I said, that’s mainly what I still do; I’m all for it.
One time a dear friend gave our family some money and said, “Take your wife out on a date.” They didn’t know that we had no food in the house and that their 65 bucks would be better spent at a store for five meals than on one. Did I tell them? No. They gave and God will reward them for that, but I was a wise steward as well and I will be rewarded for taking care of my three little girls for that week instead of blowing it on steak, lobster and those amazing cheddar biscuits. And then a mint mocha. With whip. 145º so it’s not too hot. Man, I wanted that mocha.
By the way, “I can see how buying groceries, food, or giving a ride to someone is just as charitable.” Incredible! That’s one of the best sentences on this whole post! That’s exactly right. Great summary. Amen, let’s stand.
Ruth, your “satisfaction” comments are superb. Great insight into realizing your identity. Reminds me of, “Jesus, knowing where He came from and where He was going, took off His outer cloak and began to wash [the disciples’] feet.”
I agree with giving them what they need, but I personally find it very difficult to do that in a realistic way (as I just said above, I can’t see it going exactly as we had hoped most times). For instance, did your NC beggar need bread or a complete meal? Would he have been even better with an apartment, some new clothes, a job, some real friendships and salvation? We can always do more. Always. It will never be enough.
But it’s not about doing enough, it’s about just doing it.
If I may, I’d like to ask a question. You said, “I wouldn’t trust this guy with one dollar…” Why do you need to trust him at all? Should our giving be contingent upon what they will do with it?
Posted on December 9, 2006 at 12:03 am
Ruth said:
Josh, no, not really. But should we give someone something when we know they will do something with it that might kill them? This is probably not a good thing to compare with, but… when I think about a father, he wouldn’t give his 10year old son the keys to the car. Why? because the father knows his son is not ready for it and might do something stupid with it. on the other hand, if the father wants to give his son something he will entrust something else to his son. it doesn’t matter what really, but for sure not the keys to his car.
and that was what i meant with the one dollar. I agree with you, we don’t really know what they (beggars) need most, but if i can do something for the 3minutes I stand with them on the street I wanna give them something that will satisfy their hunger if they’re hungry, something that will satisfy their thirst if they’re thirsty.
Posted on December 9, 2006 at 1:29 am
Shawn said:
@ Josh - You have some excellent stances on giving. Thanks so much for the time it took you to post those comments. That’s why you’re name is on my blogroll. Woot!
Posted on December 9, 2006 at 10:16 am
Nathan said:
A lot has happened on this thread! Thanks Josh for the kudo on the litmus test. You’re right - it’s not perfect but has worked well for me.
I’m writing a bit more just to clarify / expound, for its own sake.
To clarify my “more biblical” phrase, I wrote this in the context of what I had seen family do- pretty much nothing - actually worse than nothing. They generally eased their consciences by talking to one another about how the guy probably has a luxury car around the block. Once after a PK conference of all things, a guy panhandled and I watched the group laugh it off, I was about 15 at the time. I figured the real joke was what didn’t happen during the PK meeting!
Regarding Ruth’s stance, I agree that it is important to have a certain posture in these situations. It is really about control, which sounds like a bad thing. Before I used the litmus test I would often give but I felt used after giving the dude money. I realized the used feeling was not just because I literally had been used
but also because I was off guard. We all believe God wants us to discern and steward the resources He gives us - and so there needs to be a response based upon wisdom, not caving into the guilt that is often present in these situations.
Jesus constantly took control of such situations with blind men, lame men, etc… and even he had a litmus test “do you want to be well” generally. Peter and John put this to work with the lame man too.
Finally I agree with your point Josh and the unsettling issue you raise about non-profits and ministries never using their resources efficiently. There are tools out there to help us track the % of administrative costs, advertising, etc… that I’m sure you are aware of. It does break down at some point… and I haven’t looked at your blog yet so I’ll get more of your perspective there.
Fun thread everybody.
Posted on December 10, 2006 at 8:00 am