I don’t know if this happens where you live, but in my city, there are often people begging for money at the traffic lights. It happens less in the suburbs and more in the city, but I encounter it from time to time. Now before I get into this, I’ll admit that this is a sensitive issue and it has Christians at sixes and sevens, trying to figure out at what point one needs to play ‘hard ball’ with people that are trying to secure a hand out, and at what point is it necessary to show a level of compassion that can see someone rescued from their circumstances. People are genuinely divided on this and I’m sure my opinion will cause someone to get quite upset. Be so if you must.
I’m not sure at what point a healthy, able-bodied man has given up searching for a legitimate job opportunity, and resorted to begging. That must be a pride-crushing and desperate place, but it’s happening more and more, so these must be shockingly tough times for some. This post is also not to condemn, but to point out that the Word of God has something to say about this and I desperately want to share an experience I had this morning.
There is a man who is a regular face around this area, begging for money and food every day, at one of the 3 or 4 main intersections. I confess that I have forgotten his name but I have chatted to him on many occasions, as I’ve waited for the light to change. I don’t think he likes me at all. The reason for the ‘not liking me’ part is probably because I’ve challenged him on several occasions. I can see from the way he moves that he has an issue with one of his legs. He moves with a pronounced limp. I can assure you, that from our ‘chats’ in the past, that he is both eloquent and smart, and we have held a lengthy conversation at one of the intersections, where the speed of the lights changing in my favor, has often tested my long suffering! I know a bit about him, his girlfriend, and his disability and in response to his story I asked him why he has chosen to beg from money and food, as opposed to finding a job, with a bit more security and, as I see it, a bit more dignity. To face rejection all day long can do no soul any good. His response was that he can’t work because he is handicapped. The rest of the discussion went a bit like this: ‘I can see there’s a problem with your leg, but surely there is something you’d like to or could do?’ ‘But I have a handicap!’ ‘But it seems to just be your leg, why not get a job where you could be seated somewhere, like a tech repair or desk job for example?’ ‘Yeah, I’ve thought about that, but you know, I’ve got an opportunity coming up, and it looks good, but; you know.” The light turned green for me and I waved goodbye. A week later I asked him how it was going and he told me the ‘opportunity’ fell through. This morning, many months later (I see him almost everyday at one of the intersections) I saw him again. Juxtaposed to this normal daily visual is that of another man at the same light at the same time. This other guy is going from car to car, not begging, but handing out little slips of paper. He’s looking for work! On this paper,the man introduced himself, his nationality, and the kind of work he is capable of and willing to do, and with that, his cell phone number and that of a reference. Although dressed modestly, he was smiling, greeted me and the other motorists, and had a very pleasant disposition and I felt deeply moved and immediately thought of what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3. He said this from verse 10:
Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.
I agree that there are times when certain people are unable to work, even if they want to; but what happens if you can, and you choose not to? You choose a hand-out over a hard days work; I don’t always believe that that is acceptable. I’m no monster and I am empathetic towards those that are struggling to get work, as I was in that boat for well over a year. I understand. I understand that there are circumstances but I also know there are people that can, but choose not to. There seems to be a fine line here, and one’s attitude counts for a lot. I’m convinced thought that I want to always be considered a hard worker, prepared to get the job done, and to do it well; never being considered a ‘free-loader’, but a steward of all that is being offered to me. What are your thoughts on this sensitive issue?