Giving money: a) To the needy and b) To the Church

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Kathrin

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a) Just a quick question: If somebody comes up to you in the street asking you for money, do you always give? Because it says in the Bible to give to whoever asks from you?
I usually give at least a little bit if somebody asks me explicitely, even though I live on a very very minimal budget myself.
Or I try to maybe buy them a muffin or something, if it’s obvious the money would probably go for drugs.

b) Oh, and a related question, since I am already talking about money: This is about tithing. I don’t think a lot of people actually give a tenth of what they make?
I remember a time when I tried to live on ten dollars a week (yup) and I tried to make sure to give one dollar to church.
And sometimes when somebody gives me a big tip (I am a street musician), that is, a big bill, I try to share a tenth of it with somebody else.
Otherwise it is really difficult, since a great part of the year I have only been doing volunteer work.
 
I don’t have to encounter a lot of homeless people during my normal routine… but when we travel to large cities we always try to pack a box of granola bars and hand those out to people who ask… that way you know that the money isn’t being used for alcohol or anything…
We should give to others in need… but that doesn’t necessarily mean exactly what they’re asking for… 😉
 
I am still a student, so what I say is what I am planning on doing in the future. If I am driving somewhere, and someone comes up to my window w/ a sign asking for money, I usually do not give them anything. The mentality behind this is, if they are not homeless/poverty stricken, then money that could have gone to the needy would instead go towards booze/drugs. I will donate money to legitimate charities and other organizations of the sort, to where even if the person who knocked on my window really was homeless, they would recieve benefit, if not from me directly. Whether this is wrong or right, I am not sure, but I guess that is something I have to deal with:shrug: .
 
Although I must admit I would be highly skeptical of whether they truly need money, I would give it. It’s just not worth the risk of getting to heaven and hearing Jesus tell me that when He was hungry, I did not feed Him, and when He was naked, I did not cloth Him. I’d rather be ripped off a few bucks than risk not giving to the least of God’s people and having to pay for it later.
 
Kathrin said:
a) Just a quick question: If somebody comes up to you in the street asking you for money, do you always give? Because it says in the Bible to give to whoever asks from you?
I usually give at least a little bit if somebody asks me explicitely, even though I live on a very very minimal budget myself.
Or I try to maybe buy them a muffin or something, if it’s obvious the money would probably go for drugs.

b) Oh, and a related question, since I am already talking about money: This is about tithing. I don’t think a lot of people actually give a tenth of what they make?
I remember a time when I tried to live on ten dollars a week (yup) and I tried to make sure to give one dollar to church.
And sometimes when somebody gives me a big tip (I am a street musician), that is, a big bill, I try to share a tenth of it with somebody else.
Otherwise it is really difficult, since a great part of the year I have only been doing volunteer work.
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Wow, you are like that old woman who gave the pittance. How is it physically possible to live on 10 dollars per week? Were you eating ketchup sandwiches? That’s terrible…

If someone out and out asks me, I always give – how can you expect anything from God if you refuse people who ask things from you?

I tend to see strangers around me as ‘tests’ or ‘(name removed by moderator)ut’ sent by God, not just needy people, but also, for example, people I otherwise would hate so much I couldn’t even look at them, or really, really attractive women…
 
Em_in_FL said:
I don’t have to encounter a lot of homeless people during my normal routine… but when we travel to large cities we always try to pack a box of granola bars and hand those out to people who ask… that way you know that the money isn’t being used for alcohol or anything…
We should give to others in need… but that doesn’t necessarily mean exactly what they’re asking for… 😉
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Excellent idea! I’ll have to remember that one. Fr. Benedict Groshell also says that he carries some McDonald coupons with him, and he hands those out, too.
Kevin42 said:
Although I must admit I would be highly skeptical of whether they truly need money, I would give it. It’s just not worth the risk of getting to heaven and hearing Jesus tell me that when He was hungry, I did not feed Him, and when He was naked, I did not cloth Him. I’d rather be ripped off a few bucks than risk not giving to the least of God’s people and having to pay for it later.
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Yep, I agree. I’d rather err on the side of generosity and charity, than on the other side.
 
Em_in_FL said:
I don’t have to encounter a lot of homeless people during my normal routine… but when we travel to large cities we always try to pack a box of granola bars and hand those out to people who ask… that way you know that the money isn’t being used for alcohol or anything…
We should give to others in need… but that doesn’t necessarily mean exactly what they’re asking for… 😉
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If we see this in the city, we usually offer buy a hamburger or something. If they refuse, you know the money would have gone to drugs 😦 Or we point them to the Catholic homeless shelter or something.

I prefer to give my money to organizations that will see that it is used properly. I don’t want to support someone’s drug or alcohol abuse. There are plenty of legitimate organizations out there that help people in need, I figure if they won’t use them, it’s because they want the money for drugs or booze. Yes, I’m cynical, but it’s true. So I give money only to organizations, not people. To individuals, I give food.
 
Kathrin said:
a) Just a quick question: If somebody comes up to you in the street asking you for money, do you always give? Because it says in the Bible to give to whoever asks from you?
I usually give at least a little bit if somebody asks me explicitely, even though I live on a very very minimal budget myself.
Or I try to maybe buy them a muffin or something, if it’s obvious the money would probably go for drugs.

b) Oh, and a related question, since I am already talking about money: This is about tithing. I don’t think a lot of people actually give a tenth of what they make?
I remember a time when I tried to live on ten dollars a week (yup) and I tried to make sure to give one dollar to church.
And sometimes when somebody gives me a big tip (I am a street musician), that is, a big bill, I try to share a tenth of it with somebody else.
Otherwise it is really difficult, since a great part of the year I have only been doing volunteer work.
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I am one of those fortunate enough to have a good job, good enough that I can indeed tithe. Not from spiritual pride, but just because I can do it now. If circumstances change, I can and will cut back.

In my area, ALL the panhandlers are alcohol and drug addicts. Trust me on this one. (23 years sober in AA.) I do not give them money, ever. Food, yes. Coupons to fast food places, yes.

A few weeks ago I was panhandled outside the supermarket. I took the guy in, and let him pick out the sandwhich of his choice, which I paid for. He admitted he would have spent the money on drugs, but realized he needed to eat as well.
 
Kathrin said:
a) Just a quick question: If somebody comes up to you in the street asking you for money, do you always give? Because it says in the Bible to give to whoever asks from you?
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No, not always. It depends - I do give to newspaper sellers, bottle pickers, and street performers, but if the person isn’t doing anything creative or useful, then I would direct them to the homeless shelter or to the lunch bus, depending on the time of day.

My recommendation to others is to never show your wallet to anyone - have a pocket full of spare change from which you can pick out money to give - because one ruse that thieves use is to send one person out to pan handle so that they can see where the person keeps their wallet, and then after the “pan handler” is gone, they will follow the person until they can distract them in some other way, and then pick their wallet out of their purse or pocket.
b) Oh, and a related question, since I am already talking about money: This is about tithing. I don’t think a lot of people actually give a tenth of what they make?
I remember a time when I tried to live on ten dollars a week (yup) and I tried to make sure to give one dollar to church.
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I’ve done that, too - it was a long time ago, mind you, when I was young and reckless, and took my good health completely for granted. It was fascinating how giving that dollar to the church caused the other nine to stretch out over the whole week - I was never in debt in those days. (The first time I went into debt, I was making more than $2,000.00 a month, clear. :rolleyes: )

It’s good to tithe, but do keep in mind that it is optional - and in your situation, you would be perfectly within your rights to ask the Church to help you out, if an emergency were to present itself.
 
CSN said:
Wow, you are like that old woman who gave the pittance. How is it physically possible to live on 10 dollars per week? Were you eating ketchup sandwiches? That’s terrible…
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Ten dollars won’t pay anyone’s rent (if they are paying $10 - it’s practically charity) so I think we can assume that that is covered. As for food - at the local grocery store you can buy eight packets of Top Raman for a dollar (which could be eaten “raw” if you cannot use gas or water). If you were to spend $2 on top raman (16 packets) you’d be eating at least two “meals” a day. And besides that you can buy a liter of coke for a dollar - so you could probably spend another 3 dollars (3 liters). And then if you want to spend the last 4 on something more edifying I"m sure you could (or many little things for 99 cents such as cookies or whatever).

I think it can be done. 😉

Catholig
 
I just give them the money. I can understand the desire to make sure it is not going to be used for bad things, but I can’t do that. Perhaps because I’ve been kind of a bad dude myself, but if I were to give them something other than what they asked for, I know my conscience would be screaming, “Who the Hell do you think you are second-guessing this person!?”
 
If someone in the street asks money of me and I have it to spare, then I give and dont concern myself with attempting to judge reasons for wanting the money. I’ve never been asked for a large amount, usually up to a dollar for a phone call or bus.
I give about 9% of my total income, but then I’m single without dependants and can afford it. I give to The Church, charity and the missions.
I always like to give to street musicians! I love the colour and life they give to our streets.

Blessings and Peace…Barb:)
 
Catholig said:
Ten dollars won’t pay anyone’s rent (if they are paying $10 - it’s practically charity) so I think we can assume that that is covered. As for food - at the local grocery store you can buy eight packets of Top Raman for a dollar (which could be eaten “raw” if you cannot use gas or water). If you were to spend $2 on top raman (16 packets) you’d be eating at least two “meals” a day. And besides that you can buy a liter of coke for a dollar - so you could probably spend another 3 dollars (3 liters). And then if you want to spend the last 4 on something more edifying I"m sure you could (or many little things for 99 cents such as cookies or whatever).

I think it can be done. 😉

Catholig
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It can be done, but can it be done without the assault on every single organ of the body ? Palm oil, MSG, sodium, caffeine, sugar, ahhghghghg.

Actually, you just illustrated why poverty and obesity are related. Healthy, fresh food is much more expensive…

Funny, back in the day (long time ago), rich people were proud to be pasty and fat, but now they want to be tanned and thin. A complete role reversal.
 
Ten dollars won’t pay anyone’s rent (if they are paying $10 - >> it’s practically charity) so I think we can assume that that is >> covered.
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My room and bus pass I had covered.
For a few months a few years back I even did 5 dollars, but I didn’t tithe then, just gave maybe ten or 20. That was a very special situation though, after I had had an unexpected expense.

And oh yes, God takes care of us!! During that time I would find things… oh yes, like an apple lying by the wayside or whatever.
And I ate at “Food Not Bombs” sometimes.
 
Kathrin said:
Ten dollars won’t pay anyone’s rent (if they are paying $10 - >> it’s practically charity) so I think we can assume that that is >> covered.
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It was astounding, the sources of free food that I was able to find during my own period of poverty. Art openings at artist run centres are free to attend, and have crackers, fruit and cheese. Church suppers, Bible study groups, amateur musical performances, and lectures at the University were also often accompanied by a snack table of one sort or another. These wouldn’t replace regular hot meals, but you could get by with one regular hot meal a day (breakfast) and then arrange your day to get to these free events where they had food available. Obviously one has to be circumspect, and not consume too much at a time, or else people get wise that you’re there for the food, and throw you out - but it was enough to keep me going, at the time - and I got a bit of culture, at the same time. 🙂

(Thank God those days are over, mind you.)
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