Is it a sin not to give to a beggar?

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It seems that there are more homeless people in the United States today. Wherever you go there are people begging for help. Some are completely homeless and ask for money to buy food. Others are not homeless but their car has run out of gas and they need money to buy gas to get home. Is it a sin to pass by a needy man and not help him in any way?
 
In the US we do not have beggars, we have panhandlers.

Do what the Good Samaritan did, donate money to a local facility and direct those who ask to that facility.
 
Beggars, like those who exist in many countries and other times, have no way to feed themselves except for the charity of others.

In the US, the poorest people have a microwave and internet access, there are many federal, state, local and private resources that help with food. Those who are too disabled to work receive a stipend from the federal government and can qualify for many other programs.

The people holding up that sign “will work for food” are making a couple hundred bucks a day, they don’t want to go get a “real job” because they make more $$ panhandling.
 
I always give. I don’t want to have to explain to Christ on the last day that I thought I could read the person’s soul and denied him.
 
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Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?..’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Jesus via Matthew).
 
TheLittleLady said:
Beggars, like those who exist in many countries and other times, have no way to feed themselves except for the charity of others.

In the US, the poorest people have a microwave and internet access, there are many federal, state, local and private resources that help with food. Those who are too disabled to work receive a stipend from the federal government and can qualify for many other programs.

The people holding up that sign “will work for food” are making a couple hundred bucks a day, they don’t want to go get a “real job” because they make more $$ panhandling.
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True in some cases. Not in all. I think not in most. The government resources you speak of are hopelessly inadequate in some places and close to nonexistent in others.
That stipend is often pathetically small, and to get it you have to convince the bureaucracy you qualify, which can be anywhere from hard to impossible.

There are scam artists. I know that. I’ve met a few.
But the genuinely destitute or struggling outnumber them.
 
I prefer to give “panhandlers” bottles of water and/or a granola bar if I have them.

Honestly, I think it is more work to panhandle than to get a “real job” in many circumstances. When you have someone in minimal clothing standing out on the interstate in sub-freezing weather for hours and hours…that starts to look like a hard job I’d rather not have. 🙂
 
On the way to Mass on Sunday there was a man sleeping on the ground beside the interstate under a tattered blanket.
My heart broke for him.
 
There are those with addictions and mental health issues who are not receiving assistance because of they cannot or will not comply with the “rules”. I hope you can get him the info of the nearest men’s shelters.
 
He had been put out on the street for no insurance.
No job no insurance.
No car no job.
No job, apartment.
No apartment, no cleanliness.
No cleanliness, no way to get food,
No food…life on the street.
 
pianistclare said:
I always give. I don’t want to have to explain to Christ on the last day that I thought I could read the person’s soul and denied him.
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What if Christ then asks - why didn’t you give more?
 
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That’s a huge problem. Our community does not have one of those, and the Atlanta one is full.
Could only bring him to St. Vincent de Paul and they said they would place him somewhere.
Thanks for asking. Please pray for him. His name is JAMES.
 
pianistclare said:
That’s a huge problem. Our community does not have one of those, and the Atlanta one is full.
Could only bring him to St. Vincent de Paul and they said they would place him somewhere.
Thanks for asking. Please pray for him. His name is JAMES.
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Yeah…the issue here is location. The south can has major issues in helping people in poverty that other places manage.
 
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