The Least of These
by Tom Neven on 05/06/2008 at 8:12 AM
He stood at the stoplight at the bottom of the freeway exit ramp. Dirty, disheveled, most if not all of his worldly possessions in a few bags at his feet. He held a scrawled cardboard sign: "Homeless: Just tryin' to survive."
I watched him from about four cars back. Interesting touch, I thought, making note of the dropped "g." With an apostrophe, no less! That's when my son spoke up: "Why isn't anyone giving him money?"
Why, indeed? Had I become so jaded that I took it for granted that no one gives money to beggars on street corners?
It's a common dilemma. I lived and worked in Manhattan in the mid-'80s, during the height of the crack epidemic. One encountered three or more dirty, disheveled beggars on every block, each holding the ubiquitous blue-and-white Greek coffee shop paper cup. When I first moved to the city, I was genuinely torn as I walked down the street; even if I was so inclined, I did not have enough money to give to everyone who asked. In those first days, I put a few quarters in a few cups. But a few days later I saw one of my beneficiaries staggering down the street, drunk out of his mind. I had no doubt where my quarter had gone.
That's when I stopped giving money. A few offers to buy a meal were turned down. That solidified my resolve. And when a woman in a full-length fur coat gave me a sob story about how she'd just inherited the coat and wouldn't part with it because it was her aunt's favorite coat ... blah blah blah, so could you please give me some money, I just walked by, giving her barely a glance. Living in the city had hardened me.
Twenty-plus years later, I had taken a purely clinical approach to the man at the bottom of the freeway ramp. My son, alas, had not yet been hardened.
I'm still not sure how to think about this. There are Jesus' words in Matthew 25:45: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." Those words are a dagger to the heart every time I think of how callous I'd become in New York -- and on the freeway ramp.
But then I read the apostle Paul's words in 2 Thessalonians 3:10: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." The homeless man was young and able-bodied, and surely he could find work somewhere. Giving money to beggars merely encourages irresponsible behavior.
But then ...
I can go back and forth on this forever. One thing I can do is to give generously to organizations such as the Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse or Compassion International that are able to pool resources and do genuine good for the least of these -- no equivocating or questions asked.
1. Holly said the following at 8:25 AM on May 6
This is a tough one. I've almost always avoided giving money to beggars, but I try to keep a stash of food (granola bars and cracker packs) in my car to hand out. You can't use granola bars for personal harm, right? Personal care stuff (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) is also a good handout.
I think giving to the aid organizations is a good start, but at least for me it doesn't feel like the same kind of love involved. In the Good Samaritan story, the Samaritan guy put the hurt guy on his own donkey and cared for him during the night. That's so personal! I also think that part of the reason we're to care for people who don't have anything is that our own hearts will be transformed. We'll always wind up more grateful, less greedy, and more Godly when we've practiced mercy. And maybe I'm just not the right kind of giver, but I don't see those fruits in my life when I've given to an organization instead of ministering to a person.
2. Kathryn said the following at 8:34 AM on May 6
That man's attitude to money and how he uses it is his problem and responsibility. Jesus doesn't say to give money only to those who will use it wisely! But to give freely and generously! That's your responsibility!
God gives us salvation, yet we continue to sin. Does that mean God should not longer offer grace to anyone else human? Or should we no longer be eligible for heaven?
Your responsibility Tom, is to give to those in need. That homeless man is in need. What he does with that money is up to him. Or will you only give conditionally from now on? Just as grace was given conditionally for you...?
3. Louise said the following at 8:37 AM on May 6
I have heard that one shouldn't give homeless/street people money, since the chance is fairly good the person will spend the money buying drugs.
If you want to do something for him/her offer to accompany him/her to a resteraunt and purchase a meal.
But..homelessless is a complex issue and often times a homeless person cannot just "go out and get a job."
What about a decent set of clothes to wear to job interviews, and the use of a address and phone number to put on job applications?
4. obewan said the following at 8:49 AM on May 6
The Blog Said:
“The homeless man was young and able-bodied, and surely he could find work somewhere. Giving money to beggars merely encourages irresponsible behavior.”
That is really stereotyping or profiling the homeless. My experience at the local homeless shelter in my town has shown me that many are just laid off economic refugees. On one Saturday afternoon, we served lunch to 400 people. I did not see any drunks or druggies – or at least they were quite sober at the time. I did see many families with young children. I heard many many stories about layoffs. People who came from the Mid-West had spent their last dime on bus tickets for their families. They had all their worldly possessions in a backpack. Some were just days away from starting their new jobs at Wal-Mart of Home Depot at only $6 or $8 an hour. (When I left Michigan to move to Florida, the state had just lost 50,000 jobs. I was laid off several years and could not even find work myself cleaning toilets for $6 an hour. Michigan has since lost over 500,000 jobs. You won’t hear much about it from the Bush administration.)
One major obstacle to finding employment is lack of a residence address or phone number. I have applied for many jobs where they emphatically state the applicant must have their own reliable transportation even.
We could do the homeless a lot of good in terms of finding employment by buying them a phone card or answering service. That is what the phone company in CA did. Free phone service for the homeless. The wonderful George Bush administration unplugged the benefit due to a dispute over who was going to pay the federal excise taxes for the “free” phone service. That homeless benefit was discontinued, and one more obstacle to gainful employment was put back in the path of the homeless.
Also, many of the homeless at a church ministry in San Diego I had visited testified they did not encounter a drug or alcohol problem UNTIL they became homeless. They were under a great deal of stress and duress living on the streets, and they met up with other people in the same situation. They turned to alcohol for comfort and to help them sleep at night etc…Yes, I aware there are many cases where people wound up on the streets as a result of their own bad decisions, but we do them a disservice when we judge them without hearing their real stories firsthand.
5. Phil Craig said the following at 9:06 AM on May 6
I'm inclined to think there are a couple of complementary ways to think about this:
--Giving money to homeless charities is much more effective in the long run than giving to individuals.
--A beggar might use our money on alocohol. Or they might use it on food. But is it for us to withhold it in case they use it on the former? Surely we should err on the side of generosity?
In a fallen world we can't assume that a person can "surely" find work somewhere. I'm a total hypocrite saying this, but I wonder if we should give them the benefit of the doubt.
6. hxcjf said the following at 9:30 AM on May 6
"least of these MY BRETHREN" in Matt. 25:40. Who are Jesus' brethren? Those who "do His will, these are my mother and my brothers." Refusing to work is not His will, so no brethren, no handout. On the other hand, if there is a legitimate need, most homeless shelters are savvy to that sort of thing, so money would be better donated there, as you concluded. But you have to look five verses earlier in the passage to find the "my brethren" phrase that clarifies it.
7. Matthew said the following at 9:51 AM on May 6
This is a tough issue and once I've thought and prayed over before a lot. I always try to just carry some kind of food (or a bus pass, as I am frequently asked to contribute so that someone can buy one of those) with me so that I can give them out. If someone is genuinely hungry, I can obey Christ's words without helping someone feed their addiction to the best of my (very limited) ability. A friend of mine keeps "homeless packs" in her car with a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, t-shirt, some food & utensils, a Bible, and other daily necessities. This kind of thing can really help people who need it, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.
There are two other important things that I'd like to comment on, especially in regards to judging the people that we see on the street. One is that an enormous number of the homeless (especially those who stop us to ask for money) are mentally ill and not just lazy or irresponsible. I am not saying that they aren't responsible for their actions, but making good decisions is much, much harder to do when your brain doesn't work like it should. The truly irresponsible or lazy can usually be spotted from a mile away trying to run their grift. If you've ever suffered from mental illness or known someone who has, you know that it takes a lot of extra effort and help from others to get through, and this is part of why supporting the organizations that you mentioned because they can do a lot for people with these kinds of illnesses.
The other thing is that in some of my interactions with beggars I realize that before God, I am a beggar whose sins and bad decisions are my own fault. I don't deserve God's mercy any more than a homeless drunk deserves some change or a meal. I must depend on Him for my daily sustenance and spiritual life. I have taken His handouts-- more than that, the blood of His son-- and I have blown it on my own sins. I have wasted the time He has given me, judged and scorned the brothers and sisters in His church, sinned while thinking "He'll just forgive me for this", and many other things. We are beggars at the foot of the cross and thus must always adopt a humble, Christ-like Philippians 2 attitude to those who are poorer than us-- whether their poverty is their fault or not.
8. Carrie (the original) said the following at 10:08 AM on May 6
I go back and forth as well. There is one corner in my city that is "home" to many dishelved beggars. This corner is right across the street from a KFC and a few blocks down from other fast food restaurants that often have "Help Wanted" signs. Since I have worked in fast food before, I am even more hardened. The work isn't glamorous, but the food is free and/or discounted. The people that stand for hours holding a sign, could be standing inside a restaurant behind a cash register or grille.
My sympathy is definitely limited. I am all for helping "the least of these", but I don't think "the least of these" are found on street corners holding signs in the United States of America. I'm willing to be wrong on this one and I hope that if I am, the Lord tells me before it's too late.
9. Holly (the single, non-parent one) said the following at 10:18 AM on May 6
Tom,
This is a great post, expressing a dilemma that I and many others, I'm certain, share. For my own part, I tend to go to the nearest restaurant and buy food, bringing it back to the beggar. I have never yet been greeted with anything other than sincere gratitude, and usually tears.
I do have a thought on this part of your post: "young and able-bodied, and surely he could find work somewhere."
How easy is it to get hired without an address? How many homeless people are employed at Focus? Are your janitors or groundskeepers young, able-bodied, homeless people? I ask not to accuse, but just to point out that even those of us who hold Paul's words to be absolute truth often don't facilitate this. My church is neither cleaned nor landscaped by homeless people, and it could be. There's no getting around that. It could be.
10. CCSurfer said the following at 10:22 AM on May 6
When I lived in the Bay Area I was constantly conflicted regarding this issue for precisely the reasons you describe, Tom. Here's what I ultimately came up with:
When I make my lunch in the morning, I now make a second lunch identical to mine. If I'm making myself a delicious pastrami, swiss and avocado sandwich on bakery bread, I make a second one just as delightful. If I'm packing myself a piece of leftover homemade lasagna from the night before, I pack a second piece. I'll throw in a couple of extra bottles of water (especially now that California's stretching towards summer) and some multivitamins and a wetnap or two and put it on the passenger seat next to me as I drive to work. Inevitably I'll pass someone hungry holding a sign at an intersection or off ramp, and I'll hand them my second lunch.
When I was involved in homeless outreach with my former church, we distributed thousands of sack lunches, but they invariably consisted of sad peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a piece of fruit and a bottle of water. Sustaining, to be sure, but mass-produced and uninspired, and I always got the impression that the recipient, though grateful, was fully aware that they were receiving charity. So now, they get to eat exactly what I get to eat, and I get to help someone without feeling conflicted about it.
11. Courtney P. said the following at 10:27 AM on May 6
This is a on time post! My Church not to long ago hosted the homeless many of them have jobs, but not enough to pay for housing. Some of them were on drugs and drinking, needing for GOD to deliever them. That's where the Church steps in and leads them to Christ so that their lives are CHANGED forever not just for the moment.
My thoughts...
12. Kevin said the following at 10:29 AM on May 6
If a person is on the street with nothing and is truly in need, will they really go after money first? I mean, what good is a few extra bucks if you don't have a place to live. There are plenty of shelters/charities for people in truly desperate situations. I think the reason many street beggers don't go there is because they won't give them the things they "want." Only the things they need. I think the majority of the time they get the things they want from the money they get holding their cardboard sign.
I'm not saying they don't need help or that we shouldn't give them help, but monetary help is not a good idea in those cases. If you want to give monetarily, give to charities. Or even better, give your time and effort volunteering.
13. Nicole said the following at 11:26 AM on May 6
I moved from a smaller town where you seldom saw the homeless on the streets. I don't know if the shelters and the soup kitchen were mor accessible or what, but they weren't around. In the city I live in now they are everywhere. Maybe I'm like your son... it breaks my heart still. I rarely have cash on me, but I've lost many, many loaves of bread leaving wal-mart to the guys asking for food. I can't say how many times I've went to make a sandwhich and realized I needed to go back to the store.
I figure that yes, if he does not work he shall not eat. But that has to do with him. Not me. Giving to the least of these... that has to do with me. If God still doesn't want him to eat, something else will happen before he starts to eat that loaf of bread. I've still done what God commanded of me.
14. niki said the following at 11:56 AM on May 6
This was *exactly* the struggle between my heart and mind all along my commute home from work yesterday.
I work in Philadelphia and each day there is an older homeless couple begging for money at a busy intersection. Often the wife stands on the corner with the same simple sign: "Homeless: Every bit helps" (not verbatim); the husband slowly walks between cars stopped at the light with a similar sign. I have seen maybe a half dozen instances in which anyone has given to them. I *know* what goes through people's minds - it goes through mine as well. But God has convicted me strongly and most days I can give them a few dollars.
They are usually out there, but when the weather is very bad, they are not. Also, about a month ago, an entire week went by in which they were missing from the scene.
According to his sign, her husband is a disabled war veteran. I have noticed some of his torn clothing and it appears to be legitimate army grade.
The rush hour traffic is nightmarishly slow and sometimes I am "stuck" next to the place where they stand on the sidewalk. We have exchanged small talk up until a few weeks ago. There was an accident in which a pedestrian was hit at the next intersection. They explained how they had witnessed it but were unable to help. (Fortunately, the intersection is in hospital territory and the person was treated immediately). That was the first time we exchanged more than a "Thank you - You're welcome - God Bless".
And yesterday, the woman spoke with me again. She told me that they are signed up to get into a couples' shelter. They were supposed to be in this week, but are now on a waiting list until July. Her bright blue eyes hardened as she described this disappointment to a young stranger who seems powerless to change the situation.
The struggle I had yesterday continues. God has presented a need to me time and again! And I realized in college that he gave me a heart for the homeless - but I've hardly done much about it. He gave me a mind and passion for economic development. I'm afraid, though, that my ideas will once again be shot down by older, richer sociopolitical forces.
God is using this to show me something. Yesterday along my commute home, I was fighting tears with the strength of this calling. I have nothing really figured out yet.
If nothing else comes of this experience, can we at least acknowledge that, as American Christians, we are being called to action today. This post confirms.
We need to pray for our Father, the King, to work through His people and meet the needs of "The Least".
His Kingdom is at hand.
15. valerie said the following at 12:08 PM on May 6
I've struggled with this a bunch having lived in Chicago during & after college. It's so true that most of the homeless people you come across are not interested in getting real help from the organizations available in the area, and being a single girl also made me wary of attempting to help.
On the other hand, I think it is important for our OWN sake not to become hardened. One thing that seemed to work was giving out $5 McDonald's gift certificates. Also, one time our IV group had tons of leftover Thanksgiving dinner that made into nice plates and gave away to homeless people in the city.
16. Jeremy said the following at 12:28 PM on May 6
I think the "he will spend it on booze or drugs" excuse is a common one Christians use to feel better about not giving money to the poor directly. Of course not every bit of money you give (to anyone, be it a person or organization) will be spent "purely", but that seems a pathetic reason to avoid giving. The attitude of Jesus seems marked by generosity and charity; the clinical and calculated approach typical of so many these days arises more from trying to apply capitalistic principles than the principles of Christ.
17. Kim said the following at 12:44 PM on May 6
I've been working at a Christian homeless shelter for almost a year, and throughout these months, I've argued myself into both corners on this topic.
While the Lord continues to shape my thoughts, (I think) I've come to a few conclusions that I'll humbly share.
Jesus always instructs us to look inwardly and not judge others. Hence, examining my attitude toward giving is more important than deciphering how the recipient spends the money. This has often exposed pride ("Wow, I'm so compassionate!") or greed ("I've worked hard for this money, and I'm not giving it to someone who sits around all day.")
The depth and direction of Jesus' compassion is astonishing. He demonstrates more compassion for those in habitual sins than the keepers of the law, the rich young man or those who are lukewarm. He knew the crowds came to him only seeking miracles, yet continually "had compassion on them," fed them and healed them. If unsure whether to give or withhold, it seems more Christ-like to give. It's not for us to determine the person's worthiness to receive.
That said, a final realization: It's not compassionate to enable someone to continue a drug addiction. Giving money to a homeless person often provides for a drug purchase, and therefore, is a stumbling block. An alternative, as mentioned, is to give to credible agencies who will provide counseling and long-term support. ("Eight Ways to Truly Help the Homeless" http://www.agrm.org/how-help.html)
18. Denise Morris said the following at 12:59 PM on May 6
I've heard that it's easier for the homeless to get food and things because of shelters. I've heard it's useful to give out tokens and things for laundromats and stuff.
19. Kristi said the following at 1:19 PM on May 6
As I read this article, I understand the dilemma that the writer finds himself in. This passage in Matthew 25 is something that God has been impressing upon me in the past few weeks. Giving money to some of these "beggars," some of which are not actually beggars at all, is just helping them feed addictions or other bad habits. But, I have found, compassion can be shown by the buying of a meal or some necessities for survival. I live in Orlando, FL, and there is a large community of homeless people. Those who are truly homeless appreciate anything that is given to them . . . and that is how you know the difference. No matter what, we have been called to love them -- and I don't doubt that this is Mr. Neven's position as well.
20. BDB said the following at 1:34 PM on May 6
Based on the volunteer training I received at the Union Rescue Mission, I'm strongly disinclined on the money side. They made a persuasive case that money goes quickly to drucks and/or other controlled substances.
However, I remain open to buying actual food. There's been a handful of times when people asked for a meal instead of money. So, I guess you could say that God has tested my commitment to this principle. There were four specific times where I was thinking in advance, "If they ask for food instead of money, I'll do it." They didn't ask for money. And were very appreciative of the meal.
And what's interesting is when I asked them what they wanted...they didn't know. They hadn't thought that far ahead, they were just hungry. They all said some variation of, "Anything would be fine."
But as a guy doing this, I probably feel more comfortable with the interaction. I feel pretty safe buying a meal in a store and bringing it outside - safer than pulling out the wallet on the street.
21. P&P said the following at 1:41 PM on May 6
I volunteer at two kitchens in my area and the one thing they tell the volunteers is to not give any money to the guests. There are a variety of reasons behind this, however one of the bigger ones is to encourage people to learn to fish rather than ask for fish, as it were.
Tom, maybe the best thing you can do to teach your son is to check with various shelters and kitchens in your area (my city has a clearing house web site for volunteer opportunities) and find one that you and your son can participate in. He most likely won't be in direct contact with the guests, however he will get a good sense of the work these shelters do and gain an understanding of homelessness.
22. obewan said the following at 1:49 PM on May 6
When confronted with the dilemma of giving a homeless man money because he might spend it on drink, C.S. Lewis once said "if I don't give it to him, I will spend it on drink myself." I realize that is a little left of center, but I have been able to apply it in my own life. Sometimes when I am tempted to buy a nice bottle of wine at the grocery store so I can have my one glass limit with a nice dinner, I instead give the money to the Salvation Army. At least that way I know the money will be used properly.
23. Matthew said the following at 1:52 PM on May 6
hxcjf (#6),
I feel like that is a tenuous exegesis; what if the person asking is a Christian who is disobedient & lazy, has a mental problem, or is addicted to drugs? Must someone be deserving and already working hard for us to show them mercy? God showed us mercy when we were His enemies and completely undeserving.
24. DannieA said the following at 2:59 PM on May 6
My mother works as a medical coder for a county hospital. It gets quite a bit of homeless people. She's encountered quite a few of homeless people who want to live on the street...not having to live by rules. Some of these refuse to go into shelters because they have to take showers and not drink or do drugs.
You can lead a mule to water, but you can't make them drink.
We are to both be generous and stewerds...be wise and gentle...
each case is different.
25. Al said the following at 3:13 PM on May 6
hxcjf, I'm not comfortable with the interpretation that Jesus holds us only accountable to extending kindness to those who obey and follow Him and are fellow believers. In fact in 2 Thessalonians 6, Paul states:
"In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us."
This seems to imply that not working does not automatically disqualify one from being a brother.
Which is followed by verse 10 that Tom quotes:
"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'"
This leads me to believe that when Paul instructs that we withhold charity from those that are not working (and are able), it is precisely *because* he is a brother, or calls himself one, rather than because he is not one.
It is his being a brother, claiming to be a fellow believer and benefitting from the community and fellowship of the church why we hold him accountable, and why many faith based ministries require those who become part of their community to take up responsibilities.
Anyway, in light of these verses, we could either conclude that by "brother", Jesus only means believers, and His commands here only apply to those who are attempting to or are not able to work as Paul stipulates, remaining silent on the mass of humanity that are not believers-- or that "brother" here means fellow man, rather than explicit follower of Christ, just as Jesus commands us to love our brothers and makes a point to define "brother" broadly in the parable of the good Samaritan. I'm more inclined to think Jesus was either intentionally vague or meant all men, rather than only fellow believers, consistent with how he constantly stressed showing kindness to enemies and those who persecute His followers. Otherwise, we would have to conclude that Jesus is silent or permissive about us denying kindness to non-Christians-- that he remains silent or even applauds when we refuse to feed a hungry man because he sleeps with his also-homeless girlfriend, or because he happens to be Buddhist, or because he still harbors bitterness and refuses to forgive his boss who fired him or the wife and family who left him, or because he is still a practicing homosexual. I have a hard time believing from scripture that's the extent of Jesus's mercy or should be our mercy as His body.
Perhaps Jesus means that we should extend kindness to all, helping some who do place their faith in Him as brothers unknowingly, sometimes giving benefit of the doubt to strangers, and lovingly deny physical aid to those we do know can help themselves especially if they call themselves believers. I suppose this does require us to interact and immerse ourselves in knowing and loving the "least", Christian or otherwise, in order that we can help them individually as they need rather than pronounce assumed judgements on them from afar. Perhaps it will get messy. Perhaps that's exactly what He intended.
26. skeeter said the following at 3:31 PM on May 6
A couple of times I gave homemade cookies - one man on the street looked like he might cry. I think they don't get many special things very often.
27. Michele said the following at 3:35 PM on May 6
I live in a "sanctuary city" where drifters often come to scratch out livings with cardboard signs and paper cups.
Overwhelmingly, the people on our freeway ramps are *working* - begging is their job. It's good money, too. Sometimes as much as $400 a day, not to mention the cigarettes and food people hand out.
You often see encampments in our city's extensive parks and the cops have a hell of a time keeping those things out.
Meanwhile, downtown, our homeless shelter is flooded with people, most of whom are mentally ill and cannot afford health care or are freshly turned out of mental health facilities after legitimate discharge. It's downright unsafe most days, as much for them as the people who cringe when they are sighted.
Our churches are focused on missions to Mexico, India, East Asia...a very small group of dedicated believers pitches in for "Church Under the Bridge" and other efforts to help downtown.
This post affected me a lot.
28. Kelly said the following at 7:24 PM on May 6
There are people who stand by freeway exits/intersections and beg??? I've not seen that before. :(
It's truly heartbreaking, all of the issues surrounding the homeless and the frustration of not being able to TRULY do something. I don't often help out of fear - a solo woman, not very big, should not open her purse in public.
As a result, I don't make eye contact with beggars or even pause for a moment. The only exceptions I make are for women or children, who are the vast minority of the poor.
29. Leah said the following at 9:22 PM on May 6
Kathryn- I don't believe it is our responsibility to give money generously and freely to people who are likely to waste it on drugs or alcohol. That is not generous, it's being played. Tom can be generous and give to the man without giving money.
Jeremy- I think the "he will spend it on booze or drugs" excuse is a very valid one. That doesn't stop a person from giving or being generous- you can give monetarily to aid organisations and direct beggars to those organisations and shelters, or you can give food or food tokens directly to the beggars. Giving money straight to them is often not wise, and the "he will spend it on booze or drugs" excuse is often very true.
Personally, I would never give money directly to a beggar. I think it's simply unwise. You are potentially harming the person rather than helping them. When I was on holiday recently with my fiance, we had a man come up to us saying that he'd been jobless for a long time and had just recently gotten a new job but his first pay was not due for a while. He had gone without food for three days, he said, so that he could feed his children. When my fiance offered to buy him a McDonalds meal instead of give money, the guy was very grateful. That's being generous and helping out the beggar without the possibility of money being misspent.
In reference to the OP-
Homelessness seems to be a much smaller problem in Australia than the US, but then again, it may just be much less publicised. In my city, the homeless population is 98% Aboriginal. I don't say this to be racist- it's true. And it's also almost a given that they are alcoholic. Again, I'm not being racist. Last week I was on a jury with an indigenous social worker who told us that most of the aboriginal homeless in the town weren't interested in taking the help she offered and were mostly alcoholics. I would definitely never give money to them, but I'd consider buying them a meal if they wanted.
(The social worker I made friends with pointed out that these "poor" homeless people ALWAYS had mobile phones).
30. Al said the following at 10:18 PM on May 6
obewan, thanks for that C.S. Lewis quote... It had me cackling out loud for awhile. I love how well his wit and humor serves truth and beauty.
31. Nicole said the following at 12:07 AM on May 7
I'm torn by whether it is best to give them money or food.
I knew a man who was a crack addict and a Christian. He tried so many times to quit. And he would for times. It wasn't until shortly before he died from a heart attack at 46 that he managed to be free from the cocaine, marajuana, cigarettes, and alcohol. There were times when he was back on the drugs that his wife had kicked him out (again) and he was homeless. And probably sometimes asking people for money or food. When he wasn't in the drug crazy mind he would know he needed food, but in that moment if you have him money it was going to the drugs. So that's why I say giving the food is the better option. These people aren't thinking clearly to make a decision about what they need most.
On that note though, sometimes remember that the person you're helping may be a lost soul who needs Jesus and you can share it with him. Or it may be someone who desperately needs to remember that Jesus loves him. And that he has a lot of people who love him if he would just go back to them and get help one more time. Don't be too quick to judge the man asking for food or money. He is a sinner, yes. But aren't we all? They need more help than just the food or money I offer them, but that's certainly the least I can do.
On this note though, I really miss the soup kitchen I used to volunteer at and should find one down here....
32. George said the following at 2:29 AM on May 7
how about buying a meal for the person and spend some time talking to him, and get to know the person a little better?
33. Jo said the following at 2:32 AM on May 7
BDB (#20) said:
"They made a persuasive case that money goes quickly to drucks"
I'm often tempted to spend my money on drucks, too...
34. Loris said the following at 7:14 AM on May 7
I'm very ambivalent about the homeless. I worked at a church in a large city for a year, and while I was there many homeless came in to use the bathrooms and ask for money. Many of them were very mentally ill-once, we had a man raving in the front courtyard for about half an hour, throwing punches at no one-and some were hardened moochers, coming back every few months with a different story hoping I wouldn't recognize them. We had homeless couples having sex on the church stairs early in the morning and the sexton and I frequently found puddles of urine inside the sanctuary. The list goes on. Only one woman asked for food, and when I gave her a can of tuna and a coke from the church fridge (it had just been cleaned and that was all that was left in there), she became belligerent because she didn't think it was good enough. Nobody ever asked me to buy them lunch. There was a Subway across the street from the church and I would have been happy to buy somebody a sub.
I've had some bad experiences, but at the same time, I wouldn't want to deny help to somebody who genuinely needed it. My tip-off with most of the homeless people who came to the door was that when I directed them to local homeless shelters that the church supported, I usually got a bitter tirade about the rules and their unwillingness to help. I never saw the laid-off families, so I guess I'm a little cynical....
35. sarah l said the following at 8:34 AM on May 7
Not all homeless people are unemployed. Some are underemployed.
36. Martha said the following at 9:52 AM on May 7
I think it's very important to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading. But when in doubt, GIVE! The Scripture clearly commands us to do so
Another way to help homeless people is to volunteer. I've been tutoring at a local homeless shelter for over a year now, helping women work toward their Graduate Equivalency Degrees. It's an excellent way to make friends, share the Gospel, share the blessing of education, and give homeless people a future. We could use many more tutors, both for adults and for the children who are in school. An hour a week can have amazing results toward ending the cycle of homelessness.
37. David said the following at 9:56 AM on May 7
obewan wrote: Michigan has since lost over 500,000 jobs. You won’t hear much about it from the Bush administration.)
Put the blame where it belongs, obewan. Bad economic policy by Michigan's state government pushes businesses out of state and suppresses job creation. The state has been in a recession for most of the decade while most of the rest of the country has prospered.
But back to the topic at hand - so many of the homeless are drug addicts and alcholics and/or are mentally ill so it's difficult to know when to give them money or not. Several years ago I gave a guy or two a dollar or some quarters outside the local library after being asked, but I'd rather not know how they spent it.
38. obewan said the following at 1:38 PM on May 7
34. Loris had the following to say on May 7 at 7:14 AM:
“My tip-off with most of the homeless people who came to the door was that when I directed them to local homeless shelters that the church supported, I usually got a bitter tirade about the rules and their unwillingness to help. I never saw the laid-off families, so I guess I'm a little cynical....”
I guess the difference in my case was that the homeless shelter my church supported was not a Christian ministry. I think the homeless people sometimes try to manipulate Christians and guilt them into providing handouts. Sure, there are plenty of scammers.
The homeless shelter we supported practiced tough love. It had many corporate sponsors. It had a staff of full time licensed social workers, and it had a strong job placement program. That is why it attracted so many laid off families with young children.
The people I met were very open about the fact that they wanted their stay to be as short as possible. I even met a SAHM woman with two small children who became homeless when her husband walked out on her and left her deep in debt. Fortunately, she was an RN who landed a job that paid more than $50K, so she only had to spend around 3 weeks in the shelter.
39. Vanessa said the following at 6:14 PM on May 7
#4 - I, too, moved to Florida from Michigan during an economically depressed time. The loss of jobs from Michigan has NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING to do with the Bush administration. The downward spiral started after 9/11 when the automotive and aerospace industries took a huge hit. NAFTA (Passed by the Clinton Administration) has cost more jobs than any other legislation, especially from Michigan, as manufacturing firms flooded to Canada and Mexico for cheaper labor and less regulation/taxation.
Back to the thread of the post, homelessness is a serious problem, and yes, some people just cannot help what happened to them...be it health, poor economy, or just plain bad luck. Other people are homeless because of poor choices...whether it originated with substance abuse or was the result of greed or living above their means until life collapsed.
The first company I worked for in Orlando (a telecommunications firm) routinely hired local homeless people on job sites. They rented blocks of low-budget hotel rooms for them to stay in, and provided letters of recommendations when the job was finished. The owners of the company had both worked their way out of adversity, and wanted to give others the chance as well. What really hit me was that those generous people were not practicing or even professing Christians...but they were more Christ-like than most professing Christians.
The Bible does tell us to help out those who need help, and that whenever we care for one of God's own, it is like caring for Him directly. Giving food and water and changes of clothing any time of year is a good way to show Christ's love to those less fortunate. The young adult group I belonged to before moving from Orlando collected hygiene products, hoodie sweatshirts, blankets, etc and distributed them every week. The church physically and spiritually fed and clothed the homeless on a weekly basis, along with providing job assistance and interview-appropriate clothing.
I feel so sad for people in that situation and I pray for them, give physically when possible, but do not give money. I've just heard too many stories of people being mugged by beggars in disguise. As a single girl, I can't be too careful.
40. Rachael said the following at 7:20 PM on May 7
Holly (1),
God can definitely use personal interactions in sensitivity-shaping or transformation. Interesting thoughts in your second paragraph. Of course giving to an organization is good too, though.
Matthew (7):
Nice thoughts in your last paragraph. Truly we are all needy before Christ and abuse His provisions...
To the single, etc. Holly (9):
It would be wonderful if more homeless people could more easily find employment. Safety most definitely would need to be considered, however. If a church were going to hire someone (off the street or not) it would be a good idea if a relationship was first built or, if there is no relationship or trust, that at least during the person's work shift they are under supervision.
CCSurfer (10),
How thoughtful!
Nicole (13) wrote: "Giving to the least of these... that has to do with me"
-->Nice!
Kim (17) wrote: "He demonstrates more compassion for those in habitual sins than the keepers of the law, the rich young man or those who are lukewarm."
-->Cool huh, that he demonstrated compassion even for the rich young ruler? Often times, those who are deemed to be in physical need are 'targeted' in ministry. But...what about the rich? I suppose people of this 'category' could count as our peers, neighbors, and co-workers, even if they aren't "rich", they could be called as such in comparison to the impoverished...
Skeeter (26) wrote: "A couple of times I gave homemade cookies - one man on the street looked like he might cry"...
-->Sweet!
Thanks for the thoughts, guys!
Me (comment #??) writes: Bibles can also be given out. I was actually surprised with the receptivity of some (though they might not be technically 'homeless'; we handed a few out at a motel) to Bibles! Don't know if they'll read them, but you never know...
41. Richard said the following at 10:01 PM on May 7
In reply to post #2:
If we give money to people knowing what they will do with it could be bad and know that there are better alternatives such as offering to buy a meal or provide them basic hygenie supplies is it not better to offer the latter and trust God that they will get a job if they want to get on their feet again? It is important to show Christ's love in giving to those who are less fournate, but its all in how its done. Foreknowledge about what has happened in other circumstances can help in determining how we can best bless the poor, while not giving them something that could possibly lead to sin.
42. Lauren T. said the following at 11:13 PM on May 7
Hey, I live in Michigan: from what I see, the bad job situation has absolutely ZERO connection with the Bush administration. You might be able to trace it to the Granholm administration, (which is the opposite of the Bush folks in many ways) but I'd even be leery of that.
In my opinion, our real problem is that we build cars by paying people more than anywhere else in the world and all our jobs have migrated to places where people are grateful to receive half the pay. Our other problem is that every time a business does well, we punish them by taxing them mercilessly. Not a good environment for attracting new business.
Still, even though my father has left the automotive industry a few steps ahead of being kicked out, there is still work that can be found.
Who are you guys going to blame for the world's troubles when George Bush leaves office next year? *chuckle*
43. Michelle Nelson said the following at 5:25 AM on May 8
Kelly #28 - as a small single woman myself, I understand exactly how you feel. My personal policy is to always acknowledge homeless people, look them in the eye and say "hi." If it's daylight and there are other people around, I feel perfectly safe doing this and you may want to consider doing the same.
Yes, most people are homeless because they have addictions they aren't willing to give up and aren't able to submit to the structure that not living on the streets requires, but they're still human and made in the image of God. I agree with the other posters that their condition and mine before God is identical, and a humbling reminder of my spiritual state apart from God.
And for the record, after working with my church's homeless ministry I'm also a firm believer in giving out food, not cash. What's best is sitting, eating with the person and listening to their story to give them some human contact.
44. Carrie (the original) said the following at 7:38 AM on May 8
Re: Michigan's unemployment
Not only is bad state economic policy to blame, but the UAW as well. They drove up the prices for GM and Ford for years. Once we entered a global economic system, Michigan was doomed for failure. We have decent cars made by Japanese owned auto makers that really can't compete with GM vehicles that experience problems after 60,000 miles. NAFTA was also a huge mistake.
RE: original topic
I haven't been approached in months, maybe close to a year, by a beggar. Last night I was approached and I did something I had never done before: bought them a meal. I was in a hurry and I almost blew him off. However, this article and the commenters that do have a bigger heart for the homeless than I do humbled me.
I took him to a sub shop to buy a sandwhich and he did grab a bag of chips, which irked me a little, but I did my best to keep a cheerful heart.
So, thank you. The ministry of Boundless bears fruit again!
45. obewan said the following at 7:43 AM on May 8
3437. David had the following to say on May 7 at 9:56 AM
>>”Put the blame where it belongs, obewan. Bad economic policy by Michigan's state government pushes businesses out of state and suppresses job creation. The state has been in a recession for most of the decade while most of the rest of the country has prospered.”<
I was not attempting to assign blame as much as to make a point about what we have not been hearing. In my experience, I spent 3 years there looking for a job before I moved out of state.
It was not about attracting new jobs. It was about stopping the hemorrhage of job loss to Mexico, China, and Thailand. NAFTA had a lot to do with it, and I suppose we could place some blame on Bill Clinton for that. Whole entire factories were closing and moving to Mexico, throwing thousands and thousands of people onto the streets.
Don’t blame unions either. I saw “good” factory jobs that paid only $8 an hour outsourced to Mexico for $2-$4 an hour. The managers who did that claimed if they did not do it, China would bankrupt their business.
As for the rest of the nations “prosperity”, my opinion is that it is/was based upon debt and low interest rates and a housing bubble. The sub-prime lending scandal is just the tip of the iceberg.
Why is it people always want to hear about the 95% who are employed rather than the 5% who are not? (Or in the case of recession states 12-13%) Also, we need to ask what percent of the 95% are actually “working poor” who need government assistance just to feed their families after paying their high rent.
46. Katie P. said the following at 10:18 AM on May 8
Leah (and others),
Just to offer a little bit of a different perspective: as some other posters have said, the issue really isn't whether or not they are going to spend the money on alcohol or drugs. Obviously, that is not something that anyone wants, but ultimately that issue is between the beggar and God, and not me. All I have to do is decide whether or not I am going to be obedient to give.
Personally, I am fully aware that some people on the streets are alcoholics or drug addicts, and will spend the money I give accordingly. But the whole point of grace is that they don't deserve it. It is actually a perfect opportunity to get to tell someone up front, "Look, I enjoy being able to help you out, but honestly, one of the bigger reasons I love doing this is because it is a great picture of how Christ shares with me. He doesn't wait until I am perfect or until he has an ironclad guarantee that I will be absolutely responsible, but freely gives his grace and forgiveness, even when I don't deserve it." It is amazing how many people will respond to that if we take the time to stop and look them in the eye and listen to them tell their story, and then tell them Christ's story through us.
Don't take this the wrong way, I am not saying that it is necessarily cheapskate-ish to buy a person food instead of giving money. That seems like a personal conviction. Let's just keep in mind the importance of mercy, and focus just as much on the fact that these people truly are "the least of these," as the fact that they might be substance abusers.
47. Jenny said the following at 10:38 AM on May 8
Read Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski.
Two middle/upper class young men live on the streets for months. What they missed the most was not always money/basic necessities -but to be treated as a living, breathing person. I don't encounter homeless people very often bc I live in a small city. However, I have learned that even if I choose not to give money, I can look them in the eye and give them a smile!
48. Eliza said the following at 11:25 AM on May 8
I'm kind of surprised at all the positive experiences people have had buying food for homeless. I live in a city where I probably pass 5 - 10 homeless every day (not always the same people), and I've never been taken up on the food offer. Once I offered to go to the grocery store with a woman and I said I'd get her whatever she wanted. She suggested we meet up in 15 minutes, and then never showed. I've offered my home-made lunch several times to people asking for money and have always been rebuffed. The few times I have given money to people it was obvious I was lied to/cheated on when I saw them just a few weeks later. One lady was bold enough to take the money she'd just collected (in front of our church after the 11am service) and spend it all on lottery tickets at the 7/11 across the street.
Needless to say, I know how people get cynical. But people always do appreciate a smile and "good morning".
49. PLH said the following at 11:30 AM on May 8
I agree with what many people have said about not giving food but time or other items. One other point, however, that I'd like to mention is that the Bible doesn't just command us to give to the poor but also that we should learn from the poor. I don't necessarily mean the homeless, but anyone who relies on God for sustenance. Jesus warned again and again about how difficult is it for the rich to be saved and indeed said he had come to preach good news to the poor. And while many of us don't consider ourselves wealthy, certainly if you consider global poverty and historical measurements of income things might appear differently.
50. Louise said the following at 11:43 AM on May 8
Re comment 49 and the ideal of global poverty I have heard that globally wise, if you have enough food to sustain yourself, reliable shelter, and clothing sufficent to protect you against the climate you are better off than most!
51. PLH said the following at 11:50 AM on May 8
Eliza, I've had some negative experiences, too. I once offered pretzels to a woman who cursed at me when I refused her cash. To be honest, thought, it didn't bother me that much since I could see she was suffering from some sort of mental disease/drug addiction. When I visited the Bay Area ( which has the highest number of homeless I've been told in the US per capita), I was warned not to look the homeless in the eye because they might "attack' me. Most of them were harmless but unfortunately because many were suffering from servere mental illness, they often did do crazy things. Still, given the mental state, I cannot blame the person since it's the disease acting.
52. Jenny said the following at 12:43 PM on May 8
Regarding mental illness: I found it interesting to learn that the number of homeless people skyrocketed with the advent of psycotropic drugs. The idea was that the mentally ill could be given prescriptions and released from hospitals in order to care for themselves. But when people don't have the money for the medication, or decide not to take the medication, they often end up on the streets. My sociology professor would be annoyed to know that I can't remember what president was blamed for the problem of homelessness, when it was actually also connected to the mentally ill being released from institutions... Maybe a good place for our money would be agencies that serve people with mental illnesses.
53. BDB said the following at 2:36 PM on May 8
Carrie (#44) wrote:
>>I was in a hurry and I almost blew him off. <<
Yeah - I had an incident like that...but I had no reason for being in a hurry, and I could easily afford the sub-sandwich w/ chips and drink for the person...because I was fasting that day for church. So, I guess you could say that God used the incident to show me my own impatience...
The experiences of people offering food and being rebuffed are interesting. That hasn't happened to me - at least not in the times that I felt God giving me a little nudge to get them something to eat. How interesting.
I did have a guy once who asked for money. I said no. He ended up behind me in line at the grocery store...with a very large bottle of Vodka. He asked again. This time I gave him a card for our church's homeless ministry, but I certainly wasn't going to give him money for what was clearly going to be a purchase of alcohol.
54. Jethro said the following at 4:32 PM on May 8
The majority of homeless people have a mental illness. If people understood what that actually meant, they might be a bit less inclined to simply label the homeless as lazy.
55. PLH said the following at 6:54 AM on May 9
Jethro-I agree 100%.
56. brx said the following at 12:09 AM on May 10
Michelle (#43) You said it - acknowledge them. A teenage girl I got to know had been homeless and on the streets for a while. She advised the most important single thing you can do is not giving food or money, but to give personal acknowledgement - even if it's just "hi" in passing. They spend most of their day being ignored in people's plain sight and that's very lonely.
Acknowledging someone conveys dignity and value as a person. Yet now and again - _still_ too often for my liking - the Enemy uses my fear and insecurity to keep me from passing along that simple acknowledgement.
Lord, help us to LOVE courageously!
57. SarahJane said the following at 11:05 PM on May 10
Everytime I am faced with this dilemma, I think of this song by Laurell Hubick called "The Popular Decision." It's convicting - who am I to cast judgement?
"This cup of cocoa ain't enough to see me through
You don't really want to know the answer to how do you do
I'll pull my feet in so they don't mark up your pretty dress
Heaven forbid I should distract you from your success
So keep your head up
Set your eyes on something straight ahead
Pretend you didn't hear the hopeless words I just said
Walk on by
That seems to be the popular decision
But you know as well as I am sitting in your peripheral vision
Tell me for the millionth time that this is my own choice
I could almost laugh at all the ignorance in your voice
You think I chose this hand?
You think I chose this heart?
You think I had anywhere else to turn but my own arms?
My own arms
Feels good in my arms
I'll escape in my arms
This cup of coffee ain't enough to see me through
You don't really want to know the answer to how do you do
I'll pull my feet in so they don't mark up your pretty dress
Heaven forbid I should distract you from your success"