Do we need to give money to beggars?

yes i think food is much better at least we know where it is going.

@stanley777 yes, and when they don't accept, maybe they are part of the syndicate

Absolutely right. There are a couple of deaf, or hearing impaired people that I went to school with that made crafts and sold them to help support their schooling and later their families. I never felt obligated but was always willing to help someone that was helping themselves. Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats everyday. Always true.

Its true giving them money will only make them more dependent on others.There are legitimate charitable institutions that helps these people and even teach and gives training to them so that they can find work later and support them.So we should give directly to this institutions.We have no obligation to them but sometimes out of pity we give them but think about it will it last for a day, how about the next... thanks

yeah, most of us give though.I too give to those whom I see really needed help like the old and incapacitated.Its our option to give or not but I guess the right move is to donate the money directly to legitimate charitable institutions because they are built and organized for these purposes.thanks...

There are many beggars, who beg really to eat.

I also often see something like that. children used as beggars, for the sake of people who are not responsible. I really regret this. I also do not agree with things like this. I usually do not give money to beggars are like this. I often give food to them.

Yes, in third world countries this is actually happening. Syndicates sometimes kidnapped children and even maimed them to look more pitiful and scattered them on streets to beg fr them.Its really hard to know which is which if they are being used or not.thanks again...

Yes, as an individual most of us really have a soft heart especially to the needy.But in our country this is a common scenario, you can see almost in every city.Our government has been doing all the help they can extend especially to those who can still have the capability to earn for themselves.Me too I give to those who can not afford to work and support themselves like the older one.But others make it their way of living even using their younger children to do the working for them.I really pity them but sometimes we have to ignore them so that they will learn to help and support themselves not for begging.thanks.

Yes, I agree with you that it is a matter of choice and definitely not our responsibility. But it would be better if beggars were placed in a shelter so they won't wander around the streets and can eat daily..

Sorry to disagree but I do take pity on these people! why? because they have not reach the stage to be proud as a human been? I don't know...but yes I feel pity for them...I hope I would never have to be in their shoes[ to be in their shoes mean] never to be in their situation!

I feel mixed emotions for them though- pity and a bit of disappointment. But that was really harsh, the girl throwing the food. I remember my friend tried to give this boy food but he just left because he wanted money instead... Children shouldn't be begging...

Yes, I've also heard abut that law- about not giving money to beggars.. Thanks for the added information. About the lumads, I think it's okay though..it's not like here in our place that they beg for a living, every single day....

Yes, I remember this saying in - "If you give a man fish, he'll live for a day; but if you teach him how to fish, he'll never go hungry forever" (was it like that?) Thanks for your response.

Yup! you right, my friend. if we help people we know in our heart who's people really need helps

What I used to do when I was working and unsure was when I saw a beggar, I'd go into the nearest take away shop, by a couple of sandwiches and a drink, and as I walked past, I'd give that to him.

I admired your humility TigerSpirit, and I know your a good person.Being humble is hard to find this days.I just imagine your reaction when you saw people who really needs help even buying food for them.thanks again.

Some people has made begging as a business and do not want to work, so we need to discourage them from doing this business. At the same time we should not ignore the onw who really need our help

Yeah I have seen people like that too.They make begging their line of work because maybe they earn more than the regular worker I guess and a lot easier.Not thinking that the one who gave them alms, sometimes have difficulty on making both ends meet.thanks for the response

Yes, I definitely do not give to healthy looking people- but there are some that disguise themselves to look poor and thin... i have even seen really old people working, so why can't they?

Its not our obligation to give to them but an option for us.I think most of us gives but to certain points, like if beggars are old to work and support him or incapacitated.Anyway there are some charitable institution that takes care of these people giving them shelter, food and clothings, but some of them preferred begging than staying in this institutions.Also by giving, we show to them that what they were doing is just and even encourage them not to be productive or dependent to others.thanks

Hello Stanley. You have a point but that is not the case all of the time. That's why Jesus said that we don't know what troubles a person is going through, that we are not in their head. I've been in a homeless shelter. They put too much requirements on you and some people are too used to being by themselves and they don't like the requirements. And some of them get in fights and no matter who starts the fight, the combatants get kicked out of the shelter into the streets. So they go out and beg. I've stayed in a shelter in Ann Arbor where you had to sleep in chairs. If you tried to stretch out and sleep on the floor, they'd put you out. Those chairs are hard to sleep on. So you stay awake all night trying to get to sleep. And if you're new, you stay awake because you're afraid someone will steal you belongings. I remember my first night in a shelter where this guy was wondering around like he was sleep walking. You can't find a job in the morning because you are too tired and sleepy. I've seen the "professional beggars" who are con artists and I've seen the beggars who have given up on the world. Back in the sixties when people were begging, we needed to encourage them to be productive. But now days are different. People want to be productive but they can't if they can't get a job. So these days when you see a beggar, you really don't know his story.

Yeah RobtheRock, I got your point and I'm sorry to hear what you've been through before, I hope your are doing okey now.Well, with your chosen Username I guess your are doing great, keep it up my friend.So you have stayed in these shelter before, and by the way you have written it the people who manages this place are really mean and have stricter rules to follow.And those who can not abide by their rules preferred to stay out on the streets.Also there are some government institutions who provides assistance to these beggars especially those who can still work and support themselves and be productive.thanks again

I don't think it's wrong, it's your choice anyway. And it is your hard- earned money.. Yes,you're definitely right, if only they try harder, they wouldn't need to beg for money. Even handicapped people have jobs..Thanks for your response.

thank you and no problem. You are right about handicap people and if someone with a disability tries than why shouldn't people without try?

many government and private institutions do assist in helping these people, they even would teach and train them how to earn a living for themselves but most of them stick to begging.I guess they thought its the easiest way of earning.Well we don't understand people sometimes.thanks again.

So you mean you give them the excess, I agree with you on that but we are not sure if what we gave them are used to support them or anything aside from their vices.Because I'm sure not all of them are legitimate beggars, some have disguised just to support their vices.For me I think its better to donate it to charity who helps those who are in need for what ever excess we may have.thanks

Yes, your right on that point its spare cash anyway and your heart ached for them.As long as you have done your part as a Christian in helping them and in your mind you have done a good deed, it doesn't matter to you whatever purpose they have used the money for.Thanks again mythociate and good day.

If you're talking about money you have "budgeted" to give away (a tithe), then I agree; that money is to go (as directly as you can move it) to building the Kingdom. I'm talking about 'spare cash' (and if you budgeted it as 'spare cash,' then spare spare cash---i.e. cash that you don't have any definite spendings in mind for yet). And (speaking worldly) if that cash goes to an 'evil' beggar (though you surely don't know if he's evil), it doesn't matter `coz you didn't need it anyway. I think of The Parable of the Sower: three-fourths of the seed he sowed went to waste, but the one-fourth that grew did so with enough abundance to make up for the lost portion hundreds of times!

yeah there is nothing wrong with giving or not its our option.I think most of us regardless of religion were naturally humble,we do gives especially those who mostly needed it.And doing such acts is a plus for ourselves which reminds us what Jesus have done to beggars during His time.Thanks ladygator

Its not an obligation on our part to give alms to beggars, but as an individual most of us can not just ignore them.Seeing how helpless, others are old enough to work so out of pity we spare them some loose change.Our government had offered help but some of them are really hard headed.Congress have even enacted " The Mendicacy Law of 1978"(Courtesy Of Bingskee - with Thanks))that prohibits anyone to give to beggars A part of it says... " mendicacy breeds crime, creates traffic hazards, endangers health, and exposes mendicants to indignities and degradation;..." And yes sometimes syndicates used these children to beg on streets and earn money for them.Like what you have said others are even maimed to look more convincing.One can never imagine how others could do such a gruesome act just to earn money.thanks salonga

Oh what an experienced, so beggars are really that mean these days.As you have said UK have a law which treats begging as a criminal offence and as a progressive country beggars still existed what more in other third word countries like ours.Begging is the easiest way of making a living, syndicates even used beggars mostly children to do the work for them and some policemen know whats happening but they do nothing because they are paid by these syndicates too.thanks for your comment brittle1906

Yes, most of us do help the less fortunate.I guess that's a natural thing to us, whatever religion we are affiliated with.They taught the same principles and values but some uses begging an excuse to compel us to give to them.As you have said once your husband even invited them to have a nice warm meal in a restaurant but they never came.So this means that some of them are choosy on what they want from us.They mostly prefer money so that they can use it for whatever they like.thanks

yes, we are not obligated to give to them.But its a natural thing to us to help others if we can, who are in-need.There are government institution, private companies, churches and other humanitarian groups willing to help them but others prefer to stay out on the streets.An giving only encourages them to think that what their doing is right.thanks and sorry to hear about your health problems I do hope others helps you too.as you have said what goes around comes around.

its but natural for us to help those who needed our help or as you have said the less fortunate.yes I agree with you that not all of them are beggars, what I mean are those people who are dressed in torn dirty clothes or hand-me downs going from house to house to ask for food, loose change or whatever that one can give.There are many kinds of beggars there are children begging on streets which are most probably member of syndicates using those innocent children to do the work for them and this is really happening.there are charitable institution that are built to help these people but the problem was most of them don't want to go to this institution, because their movement would be limited not like when they are on the street which sometimes they earn more because people are really benevolent and sympathetic.Thanks.