Basically, if you see a beggar on the sidewalk or the side of the road, do you give him/her anything? Change? A gift card? Do you actually stop and talk to him/her? Or do you only give online or to organizations you can do due diligence on?
My wife is stingy when it comes to giving handouts. She thinks most beggars in China are fake. But my pastor back home recommends giving freely to everyone who asks, because it's more about your heart than what they're going to do with the money.
I think about this a lot. I see beggars almost any time I got to the shopping areas of the city. If I'm with people, I feel awkward giving because I'm afraid they'll criticize me or feel obligated to give, too. If I'm alone, I might give something, but I almost always feel bad for not giving enough or for just giving money and not...I don't know, taking them home with me. (That would not go over well with the wife, I'm sure.)
My wife is stingy when it comes to giving handouts. She thinks most beggars in China are fake. But my pastor back home recommends giving freely to everyone who asks, because it's more about your heart than what they're going to do with the money.
I think about this a lot. I see beggars almost any time I got to the shopping areas of the city. If I'm with people, I feel awkward giving because I'm afraid they'll criticize me or feel obligated to give, too. If I'm alone, I might give something, but I almost always feel bad for not giving enough or for just giving money and not...I don't know, taking them home with me. (That would not go over well with the wife, I'm sure.)