After deciding to stop lending alms to street beggars due to many mind poisoning stories heard about their dubious schemes, I finally keyed in my decision. A particular one was about a popular Lagos street beggar. Owning many real estates (properties) from begging, leaving me to wonder if these people are really poor. If it just a business or another venture to bring food to the table. Their ridiculous pretence and act of exploiting those that considered it a necessity to care to make it a bit hard.
After a while, I decided to be open-minded and return to doing the act of kindness when I read the various account of Jesus instructing people to give to the poor…And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”…and the most obvious of these classes are the street beggars.
But unfortunately, I’m back to my sceptic state. There is this woman at a park where I’ve been boarding for about a year now. She has been there giving the very same pitiful story of been “jazzed”. How she’s from a particular tribe that doesn’t beg but she’s just doing it to pay for her surgery at UCH. Which she will be doing the following week. It’s been over 52 weeks now and she’s still there.
The last time I boarded a bus there, I saw her unpacking a brand new phone I believe was just bought by her.
Begging has gotten so bad that the city street is filled with kid beggars. They are always there, morning till night. Running after every passer-by, dragging their shirt, holding their hand asking for 10 nairas.
Funny how Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you“.
Am I to give everyone that portray themselves as being “poor/needy?” Jesus said “giving to the least in our midst equals to giving to Him” an act that portrays God’s love born in our hearts. Am I to just hand out the naira note without asking any question? Or do I quit giving street beggars and go through a registered charity organisation when I’m sure my money is going to someone that really needs it?
Not giving because I think every beggar isn’t genuine will be an excuse I’m sure won’t be tenable when I finally face Jesus at the judgment.
I am really confused.
One thing I do presently is trust my heart. Sometimes I feel deep pity for the fellow and I give, but other times, I am not even moved a bit. What I feel will be more of resentment and therefore I don’t give.
What do you think is it best to do?
Kindly contribute.
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You are right, the best thing to do is follow your heart and give to those your heart reach out to. I was at a park one day and the bus conductor asked a beggar to help him with change, when the beggar brought out his money to make change, I was astonished at the amount of money the beggar was carrying, I was sure he was richer than I myself wanting to give him.
Loool…it’s sight and experiences like that that drove me to the dilemma…thanks for leaving a comment 😀
Well, you just have to follow your heart. Even if you give a false beggar, God sees your heart and knows your intention was to help the needy. The false beggars will keep accumulating curses, that’s all.
Very true Seun, God sees the heart and He Judges our intentions.
I feel the amount a beggar carries should not be used as a basis whether to give to them or not. Lets follow our heart and show kindness. Inspiring post. Thank you sir Tolu
Lol, i can relate with this. I even stopped giving at a point. But I have had a change of heart. I think at a point, it has to be about your heart being in d right place just like others have said. Even if d beggar is pretending, i am convinced that there are a lot more people who really do need the money, and we cannot turn a blind eye to them because of some people’s mischievousness. The Bible instructs us to give alms to the needy and they are all over our streets, so We have to keep doing so and not allow the pretentious ones to prevent us from helping people who really need our help.God sees it all and He’s d final judge.
Hey Tolu…interesting topic indeed. I’m glad you wrote about this.
I very much agree with your last paragraph, and for me, I would give out of compassion.
I’ve met people that were not beggars but I gave because there was a need and the compassion was there.
May God alone bless you sir, Mr Tolu, for your work.
As for today’s post sir, I believe giving, unconditionally, should be the lifestyle of a believer. And asides the street beggars, who are more like the Pharisees acting all ‘needy’ in public, I believe there are people in our neighbourhoods who are in dire need of what we have. All we need do is to locate them and be sources of blessings to them.
The best way to know such people and their needs is to associate with them, having a heart full of compassion, one only Christ can give us. God bless us.
Looool bro this issue has been bugging me for a while now especially the disabled beggars. Oh boy. Compassion is just because Jesus helps us. If not, na carry go. I think we should give to those who God has directed us to give. But if we can go a step further we can do the Peter&John on them. #SilverorGoldWeHaveNot
Funny enough we treated this topic in Bible study yesterday, I have been dealt with by a beggar before, I was kidnapped while trying to do good, since then I stopped giving alms, but after the Bible study experience yesterday I had a change of heart. First the Bible says the Holy Spirit will teach you all things. If you have the Holy Spirit, trust me you will know who to give alms to. He may necessarily not tell you not to give but you may just feel it that you don’t find it necessary to give.
Another thing is that not all fruit you sow germinate, this means, not all alms you give, will have its reward, so what I am trying to say in essence is that we need to be close to God and the Holy Spirit to tell us even things that may seem unimportant like alms giving to avoid blaming ourselves when we give