Is supporting freeloaders a Christian mandate?

[appy]

We don't know their stories of how they came to be homeless, often it is through no fault of their own. We also should never jump to the conclusion that they are drug addicts or low lifes. It isn't an easy life. Its a lonely and hard life. Sometimes people will find a job, but the money they earn is not enough to get a roof over their heads. Some areas, a person can find cheap rent but often that means living in a really bad and dangerous neighborhood. No one should have to live like that either. It is not an easy thing finding someone willing to rent a single room to a stranger.

Some, while being able to afford a roof over their heads, find themselves unable to afford food and other necessities. If you are able to give money , your time, or a place for someone to stay. Do so, not because you have to, but because it is the right thing to do and you want to. God would rather we give what we have, not what we do not. Think about how God gives to us our needs, simply because we ask of him. In turn, so should we to for others.

2 Corinthians 8 :13 - 15   Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: "The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little."

Matthew 5 : 42   Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

[TheBlade]

9 hours ago, Big Time said:

I know we are supposed to feed and clothe the Homeless, etc, but to what extent?  Are we really supposed to buy them a house, too?  What if we are stewards of a lot of God's money?

want the truth? You can't handle the truth!...haha sorry.. seen that clip yesterday. So sorry.

Truth is.. the way it WAS done is when you help them? You keep helping till they are back on their feet. Oh but we know its so hard to tell for so many will just keep using you to get. So in that case.. you don't keep helping. But.. just pray about it 1st.. ask the lord to show you the heart of them to know what to do.. you will. You will get peace or not..

And just do what your heart says. Like a very dear friend said once. "I will never give someone a ride in the city.  But on the freeway always." For me almost the same here. Well there are to many places people can go to get help but wont.

You help them.. thats what He sees... don't let the enemy give you any condemnation.

[Figure of eighty]

16 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

It's something to be discerning about, like others have said. Jesus said to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, so with that in mind helping the needy doesn't necessarily mean giving them money. It's possible to be of assistance in other ways.

Very well said. People will take adv of you inna heartbeat. 

[JohnD]

22 hours ago, Big Time said:

I know we are supposed to feed and clothe the Homeless, etc, but to what extent?  Are we really supposed to buy them a house, too?  What if we are stewards of a lot of God's money?

The Bible does not specify "if the needy be deserving."

Trouble with freeloaders?

Become trouble for them.

Preach Jesus to them often and repeatedly until they can't stand it.

That is, if they are truly freeloaders.

Ask homeless people why they beg on street corners rather than go to Christian

Missions.

Either way, you will bless them and yourself testifying about our Lord and Savior. 

Edited April 5, 2020 by JohnD

[Behold]

17 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

It's something to be discerning about, like others have said. Jesus said to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, so with that in mind helping the needy doesn't necessarily mean giving them money. It's possible to be of assistance in other ways.

Are you looking for a reason to not give to the poor?

I think you found all of them.

But i can tell you this... Its worse to be someone who hardens your heart against the poor, then it is to be poor and also be dishonest.

Listen to me.  God is not looking at your money, He is looking at your HEART and understands your MOTIVE.

Do you really believe that when Jesus healed them, that everyone He told...>"go and sin no more".....that all of them never sinned again?   But didnt He heal them anyway?   Did Jesus ask them if they were worth healing?

Did he?

So, in that case, you dont need to be asking that question of someone who is standing in 100* July summer heat, or 40*  raining in December,   holding a handwritten sign that says "HUNGRY" "HELP".

Wake up.

Edited April 5, 2020 by Behold

[appy]

The poor is not limited to just homeless people. There are other ways to help the poor besides giving money. Many do not have their own transportation and a ride to the store, doctor etc. . . is much appreciated. Watching little ones, so the parents can get the things done such as a doctor's visit or filling out a job application, etc. . .Is anyone handy at repairing things? Offering one's talent is also good. There is so much more one can do for another individual than I have mentioned.

There is a balance. Scripture also teaches that people should not take advantage of others either. We've all heard stories of people allowing someone to sleep on their couch or sleep in a room, till they get on their feet, but instead of the person making some kind of effort to help themselves, all the person does is eat and sleep. Showing that he/she is lazy and that is taking advantage of the host's hospitality. A guest, does NOT have the right to walk all over their host. The Apostles set an example for all to follow.  The Apostles worked as well as preached so as not to take advantage of those they were preaching to.

There is a huge difference between unwillingness and inability.

 

1 Thessalonians 3 : 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."
 

[kwikphilly]

Blessing Big Time

   I never think about what my contribution is going to do once it is in the hands of the recipient,never....I can only hope they will eat or use it in a way that they will benefit but that is besides the point(to me) I gather you are talking about the homeless or drunks & drug addicts on the street & whomever are usually invisible to most people

   That is my heart,I'm always prepared with a trunk full of Bibles and a stack of bills......I love street Ministry & the dollar or two or three or whatever is laid on my heart to give is merely the opener......9 times out of 10 peoples I ask"Would you like a Bible" respond with 'yes please" & they always seem to clutch it against their heart as they Receive it-Praise Jesus!

   If you have a heart to GIVE,just give...Give & simply tell them to thank Jesus if you don't want to preach Gods Word,it's a real simple way to Say "somebody sees you,somebody cares,somebody loves you,you do matter" with one Word JESUS!

   I don't care what they do with it ,I don't care they didn't earn it-Jesus Gave to me & I didn't earn it either.....

                                                                                                                      With love-in Christ,Kwik

[Big Time]

Thanks everyone.  I like to help the homeless and needy people, but sometimes I feel like I'm being scammed by them.  Like they are just pretending to be worse off than they are to trick gullible Christians into supporting them. 

 

I don't make much money to begin with, so sometimes I also wish I was wealthy so I could help out more.

 

It definitely causes conflict within me.

[frienduff thaylorde]

No ,  its actually forbidden to do so .  If any man wont work ,  not cant work , but wont work ,   LET HIM WORK .    

but i will tell you what is mandated .     OH THAT WE PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES .    AND THAT IS A MANDATE which is JOY FILLED TO THE BRIM .

SO HANDS UP ,     HANDS UP ,   LEAP UP ,  DANCE A JIG OF PRAISE AROUND THE HOUSE TO THE KING and PRAISE OUR CROWNED KING .    KING JESUS .  

[JohnD]

I once heard of a Christian family who refused to tip wait staff on Sundays

under the auspices of not encouraging people to work on the Lord's day.

A shift manager heard about it and sent the waitress to other tables and he

served them. He later told the waitress, "I won't have you waste your tip-earning

time and efforts on hypocrites like them! If they truly did this to discourage work on the Lord's day...

then never would have gone out to eat in the first place."

Bless him!

Point being... be generous with your giving. And speak up that it is in the name of Jesus you give.

Don't be embarrassed.

Don't fear reprisal.

Don't be afraid your ignorance of the Bible will be challenged.

Simply give Jesus the credit.

God will take care of the rest.