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This is were the indwelling of the Holy Spirit comes in. No longer do I have to follow a law written on stone, but the law written on my heart. I am not saying that I do not follow Jesus, yet this command is directed by the Spirit. The Spirit guides me to those who he wills. Some I walk past without a thought. Others I can't pass even when I try.
We have to make sure that we do not take any verse and assume its meaning. Jesus had to walk past other cripples to heal the man at the pool of Bethesda. How many times did the Aopostles walk past beggars? We see no example of indescriminate giving in Scripture.
I hope no one uses my arguement to hide their selfishness. While Jesus used hyberbole, he did it for a reason. A giving spirit is essential to a Christian life.
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Everyone is.....well.....everyone.
However...and this is a big However: I have a hard time seeing Jesus giving money to a drug addict knowing he is going to use it to waste his life away.
We must rely on the Holy Spirit for each situation I believe.
Good thing God didn't give us what we deserve!----However, Good thing God doesn't always give us what we ask for!!
Must be a balance.
Matt. 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you. Christians should help those who are truly needy (and therefore forced to beg), but they are not required to give foolishly (cf. 7:6) or to a lazy person who is not in need (2 Thess. 3:10), or where giving would bring harm rather than benefit.
True Gospel compassion does involve costly sacrifice, but not always money. Sometimes money is easier, relieving our conscience instead of our need.
Brian Fikkert's new book, When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Ourselves is a wealth of Biblical understanding in this very tricky area.
When someone asks for money, I always favor giving restaurant gift cards, or better yet taking them out to dinner so we can share our stories, but there are occasions when—due to time-constraints or location—cash is the only option. When I see someone in need, I do my best to practice discernment—and I’m sure I’ve been conned many times—but verses like these make me believe that when I stand before Jesus he won’t say, “Depart from me, you’ve given too much change to crack addicts.”
Great, insightful post.
My prayers are with you.
There have been times in my life where I felt God was not being a good Father to me. This was because he did not do what I wanted him to do, when I wanted him to do it.
I went through a period of financial struggle (due to buying what I didn't need on credit, failure to save money to pay self-employment taxes, and probably other issues). As much as I wanted him to, and prayed that he would, God let me see some hard times. God did not instantly deliver me from the consequences of my actions. If he had, I would have been the worse for it in the long run. God himself does not give everything we ask for. He does give us what we need however.
What is my point? I am not saying what we should not give to help others. There can be a great blessing in it for them and us. But if our giving serves to help others from taking responsibility for their own lives, then it is hurting them instead of helping them.
We should not worry about being taken advantage of. We should be concerned that our giving actually helps people.
Christ teachings (all of them) need to be applied with wisdom and dependence on the Spirit. We need to rely on the Spirit to guide us in knowing best how to help others.
These truly are convicting verses that we need to look at with open hearts. We cannot justify our actions of disobedience with "what ifs".
I appreciate your article and truly it has given much to think about and pray about.
Let us pray for one another that we would "live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
I have had the same wrestling match in my heart and mind over what and who should I give to, I'm getting to the place where I just give knowing that it is God that will do the work in the person receivings' heart and not me! I know that if I give with a generous heart and know that God will work in their heart, it gives me peace of mind and I can bless them abundately just as I have been blessed.
Thom
http://thom-signsofastruggle.blogspot.com/
Do you think it is possible to fulfill this command not by handing the begger a buck but by monthly supporting a homeless shelter or soup kitchen in the area? They didn't have those kinds of things in Jesus' day.
This is a sincere question as I struggle to obey my King.
I think it is more of an issue of how you give, both to the homeless shelter (which is a wonderful thing) and to those who are "beggers" on the street corner. If a person passes by an opportunity to "hand a begger a buck" because he or she is already supporting a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, then I think that person is in error. In other words, if your excuse for not "handing a begger a buck" is because you are already supporting those, then I believe you too are in error. But, for instance, say you see a begger on the street and you can't give him any money, but it ignites in you a desire to give more of what you have to him or the shelter, then that is something good and excellent.
It's easy to become legalistic about the letter of the law, when, I think here, it is the spirit of the law that is more significant to address. Do I give because I love my Lord and I want this person to see and savor Him ABOVE the money (or food, or whatever) I give him, or do I give because the Bible says so? As a college student, I don't have the finances to give to a homeless shelter or a soup kitchen, but I do have the spare cash every once and awhile to give to a homeless person on the street (if, in fact, there is one...it's rare to see where I'm going to school). What's your motivation? All in all, again, it's about the Spirit of the law, not the letter in this situation.
I'm coming to feel more and more that everything I have was given to me and why not give back if I really believe the words of Jesus and this world is not my home nor where my affections are fixed. Instead of giving dollars now I try to remember to have change ready to give. I won't go into my pocket book in public though, if I don't have change that's easy to reach I'll promise to give next time. I'm not going to take anything with me when I leave here - so now I think its more of the social pressure that bothers me rather than the money. I'm a middle-aged single women (with my own social issues) and having a homeless man grab me, puts me off to say the least. But what I want to do more and more is share the gospel and the money has very little importance if I really believe God's word. The funny thing about walking by faith each day is that some days you really shine and other days—well, you feel like running and hiding because of the awareness of indwelling sin. But I guess there is nothing hypocritical about being a sinner saved by God's grace and realizing that too every day. So I guess the question comes down to what's more important: being perceived as above reproach or to live out my faith in spite of what might be said about me, in spite of social stigma and inconvenience and being harassed. Right now I'm asking myself if my eyes are on the character of Christ or are my eyes on how to fit in and get on with people. You tell me?
In some cases, though not very many for us Americans, we actually don't have the money to spare. In those cases, I think of Peter in Acts 3: "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you." We have the Good News of Jesus Christ. The news of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The news of union with God Himself in Christ. We have the greatest news in the world.
May God grant that we be generous with that as well.
Proverbs 31:4-9
4 Kings and leaders
should not get drunk
or even want to drink.
5 Drinking makes you forget
your responsibilities,
and you mistreat the poor.
6 Beer and wine are only
for the dying
or for those
who have lost all hope.
7 Let them drink
and forget
how poor and miserable
they feel.
8 But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9 Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
God convicted me of this while standing at 11th ST and Chicago. I had just turned a man away to give him money to get a bus ride, I should have offered to walk with him two miles to purchase the ticket for him. And then in walking that two miles, I would have had an opportunity to share the gospel with the man.
I believe this is why God says to go that extra mile. To give what's demanded and then some, so that we might proclaim the gospel to those who are asking. Both believers, and unbelievers.
This discussion came up amongst me and some brothers yesterday, and my thoughts on it was this. If I give to Homeless Joe for example and he has deceitful motives or will feed an addiction or etc, perhaps by my sincere and loving generosity and time with him he will feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit which in turn can lead him to repentance and relationship with Christ.
I don't think we should overthink it & just love on them & give generously as Christ Jesus has loved & given generously of Himself to us. Look in their eyes & see the eyes of the Savior looking back at you....:-)
Bless you brother for wrestling with this. I too had a similar experience this week. As I was confronted by a man on the street asking for money, I was very aware that he was likely trying to take advantage of me. As he was telling me his long sad story I was reminded of Jesus words, "Give to everyone who asks of you." I was also reminded of the text, "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?"
I found this rather to be an opportunity to demonstrate care as well as to share the gospel. Planting seeds... Maybe someday it will bloom.
The whole experience has caused me to consider more intense obedience to Jesus instruction and how to better speak with such a person regarding Jesus if another such opportunity should present itself.
Thanks for sharing this post. May we all endeavor to take Jesus' instruction more seriously.
I think what we must do is use wisdom in our giving, not use wisdom to get us out of giving. For instance, I work in a church that ministers to many low income, needy, and sometimes homeless people and one of the things we realized is that we can never be so wise as to keep from being taken advantage of (and as you say), nor should we try to be, for then we might rarely, or maybe even never give. The other thing we have realized is that we can give wisely. When someone asks for money for food, we either tell them that we'll buy them food or we'll give them a grocery store card where they cannot use it for anything but essential items. We give gas cards, not gas money. We require them to come to church at least once before we pay an untilities bill (for the purpose of them hearing the Gospel, getting connected with a local church, and for a life-transforming work, not just a quick fix). And so on. Many people will not take the cards or the food or come to church first. In either case, we believe we are being both loving and wise (either in the sincere offering and/or in the actual giving).
The only other thought I have on all of this is that Jesus often did not help people who were earnestly seeking him for help (cf. Mark 1:35-39). We must be humble, willing to give in grace and love, not with an evil eye of suspicion, but with wisdom nonetheless. We cannot give to everyone who might ask us to give, but we can and should give probably much more than we do.
Also, a random aside - I think I've heard somewhere that Tim Keller doesn't interpret the turn the other cheek passage as it is commonly understood. But I haven't heard his argument for his interpretation myself so I wouldn't be able to say whether or not it seemed sound or not.
It's tough to know what to do when someone begs on the street. I've been cheated before and felt like a fool afterwards. But other times a homeless person has been part of a "God moment" that made my whole day. I've decided that I'd rather be cheated than to refuse someone who's truly needy, and that's been a liberating decision. As mickeybeley said, God will sort it out in that person's heart.
Still, I only give a lot of money if I know that I can do so cheerfully without looking back. I have to completely let go of the money and not resent it if the person squanders it. If I can't do that, I'm not meeting the gospel standard in my heart, and therefore not meeting it at all. You're smart to pray about it--that's the best way to approach the decision.
How many times have we spit on the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. How many times I have belittled my Savior by something unworthy? He has loved us with such blindness, knowing full well that we are unworthy and would trample many times upon his love.
I tell you fellow worker...take this oppertunity to do as you know you should. Follow the leading of your Savior. And no matter the outcome, no matter the results do what is right in the eyes of the Lord and you shall be blessed. Take every oppertunity to grow!
Thanks for a great article.
Like Mickey, I live in South Africa with beggars on just about every street corner, it is just crazy out there.
Jesus' message here is one of radical love to be expressed to the undeserving and the disqualified. I guess the only way we can even begin to do what we are told here is to be consumed with His love. Perhaps, like Peter and John, when they passed the gate Beautiful, they gave the beggar something more than just a couple of coins, which was an impartation of God's power which raised him up, healed him and got him in a position to earn his own money.
My reasoning is this.... Perhaps there is something greater than the thing that people want from us, something more than they actually are asking for, and that could just be something supernatural or greater than the temporal thing they need.
I read somewhere, that if a man asks for a fish, rather give him a fishing rod and teach him how to fish, so that he can sustain himself. This is probably the better way to give of ourselves to others. To me, it would be easier to give someone a couple of coppers, but the more difficult thing is to teach them how to obtain the coins and more.
"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath."
The man was asking for help in an immediate sense - to be lowered into the pool to ease his suffering. This is much as a man asking for money on the street to ease an immediate hunger - whether it be hunger for food or drugs or alcohol. Jesus asked a crucial question, "Wilt thou be made whole?" In the text the man did not give an affirmative answer, he only inferred that he wished to be lowered into the pool. Christ told him to arise and take up his bed.
I think we sometimes miss opportunities to lead people to the Saviour when we make a judgment about their infirmities. It is sometimes difficult to understand how a person lands in such a position as to be a drug addict, alcoholic, or bum. It is hard because we understand that it is largely a matter of making decisions - bad ones instead of good ones. Perhaps we had the good fortune to have made better decisions, but we certainly made at least one that put us in the category of "sinner".
Like Jesus did with the woman at the well, we need to understand that people are victims of the original sin, and that in that, they are no different than we are. What they need is a drink of the water Jesus offered. If we are able to put on the mind of Christ, what we see in the woman at the well, or the man by the pool, or the drunkard on the street corner is a soul in need of salvation. If we are willing to give with the heart of Christ's love, we may not always give what is asked for, but we always give.
My understated, overcautious tone even seems to betray my commitment level before the obvious call sitting in front of my eyes! May God give us the grace to side with grace in every opportunity in which he would! I look forward to reading more of Jon Bloom's thoughts as this is my first visit.
Kindness is always the right thing to do, regardless of how it is received. We have no way of knowing that 20 years down the road a kindness will be fondly remembered and make a world of difference in a persons life.
When we evangelize (witness) do we say, "Well, this person may reject it, or not appreciate it, so I won't even bother?" No! You share generously and God will cause the increase, or decrease in some cases, because this person has been exposed to the truth and is without excuse.
The principle we are being shown here is LOVE. If we do not have this, WE ARE the beggarly, the poor, and the fool.
I have been burned, too, on many occasions, but I am not out JUST to feed a hungry world, but to OBEY God FIRST. Love thy neighbor as thy self! Do I fall short, let me count the ways?
Good article, Jon!
Mary
Expounding on Matthew 25:34-45, he writes, "In some mysterious way that we cannot fully comprehend, Jesus personally identifies with the poor. If that truth is staggering, then the reciprocal is terrifying. When we do not give to the poor, we leave Christ Himself hungry and thirsty."
I tend to agree with his thoughts. I too have been guilty of not giving when I come upon someone at the off ramp of the interstate, which is about the only place I encounter such people. This, more out of fear than anything else. I have helped those who have approached me personally on occasion while in public places. Mainly, I do not wish to put my children in harms way by rolling my window down and approaching a stranger, but I do not want to teach by example to them that we should not help such people. Perhaps I should change my thoughts...
You would likely enjoy reading about our church's efforts to help the poor. Read "The Radical Experiment" on my blog, or visit the churches website at www.Brookhills.org.
L. McGuire
www.HomeForHIM.blogspot.com
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Jim Elliott, martyred missionary to Ecuador
I have been blessed with a lot but there is nothing I have worth keeping if someone else needs it more than I do. God bless them with it as I know and believe my God will always take care of me. I pray I never have to be in the begging position someday. I praise God for all he has blessed me with they I am capable of giving.
Proverbs 23:4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.
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Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
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Luke 12:21 "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
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Luke 12:33 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
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Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, He said to him, "One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
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1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
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1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
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Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
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James 5:2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
"For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land" (Deut. 15:11). This commandment to help the poor is repeated throughout the Bible. It even becomes a source of blessing. The Israelites are told that they will not receive God's blessing if they ignore the poor.
Reading and re-reading the first few chapters of Matthew, it became clear to me for the first time (!) that this kind of loving and giving is so radical because it is NOT based on the behaviour or attitudes of the recipient. What Jesus is commanding us to do, is become living expressions of the nature of God, who "sends his rain upon the just and the unjust".
What a challenge! & what a turnaround that has to make in my relationships, my dealings with people at work, my respose to people on the street - my marriage!! It turns upside-down so many presuppositions that I have lived with for so long. It's no longer about reciprocity. It's about joyfully using every opportunity to express God! Holy Spirit, help me to step up to the mark!!
Giving must be inspired by the grace of God. It's the grace of God that makes us give joyfully. God is behind the giving. If not its our own works. God loves a cheerful giver. If you can remember the joy you felt when you first came to Christ and you remember the joy you experienced due to grace, then when that same joy wells up in you at the thought of giving to a particular person, then it's the grace of God wanting to give through you to others. Remember the Church that gave joyfully out of their poverty in the bible? They were inspired by the grace of God to give joyfully even though they were poor. This kind of grace inspired giving is God giving through you. Any other giving will be dead works.
My suggestion Jon would be, that if you feel joyful about giving, but have reservations due to other factors, then give! If you don't have a joyful feeling about giving, it could very well not be inspired by the grace of God. That is why the bible says that God is able to make all grace abound so that we might be self-sufficient. The same grace that prompts us to give is the same grace that makes us self-sufficient and helps others to be self-sufficient as well. All giving and getting is by grace. For us, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. God knows who is in need of help and who is His, so don't look at what they look like or where they are, look for the prompting of joyfull grace in your heart, and you will give as God desires.
Sometimes the joy that is full of grace floods our heart and we feel inspired to give and then the temptation comes to second guess it. Don't let it deter you from giving. Our giving in all its forms are designed to give glory to God. So naturally when God works in you to will to give, you can be sure that it will give Him glory. God gets the glory, the other person gets the help. (That can only be something I heard from John). However if God did not inspire it....God will not be glorified, nor will it help the other person in any real way. Give to everyone that asks from you, that is...to everyone that God asks you to give to. To everybody hungry, poor and in prison, that Jesus associates with, because then it's like giving to God Himself. God will even inspire us to give to our enemies at times!
God bless!
Heneni
I've been fighting with Luke 12:33, should I prepare for what seems to be certain economic trouble ahead (despite an apparent temporary recovery)? The context of Luke 12 seems to denounce setting aside to protect for the future, and I can't think of any other examples in the Bible which promote saving except Joseph, and he was told by God about famine (I have not been told).
I'm grateful to hear you're wrestling. It's a sign you're truly born again when you're holding your flesh by the throat and squeezing. Hard.
Praying for you. Claim the promise of James 1:2-15, especially verse 5.
This came to mind: Acts 3:1-6
Your prompt response encouraged me in more ways than one. You promptly and supportively replied to my first submission to a blog site in ten years, in fact, my first attempt ever.
I deeply feel that I just moved from a pew into a kind of home group. Thanks heartily, Frank, for the warm welcome.
The thing that I've noticed about this text lately are the examples that call us to give more than a person deserves. Meaning that a person may have a right to demand one thing of you, and yet you're to give them more than they demand or deserve.
It's certainly a challenge!