The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-13, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 1992 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

The question I have is [concerning] Matthew 5:42, “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” Does that mean we give to everybody that asks of us?

Answer

I think that’s a general principle, yes: give to him who asks of you. The assumption is that he’s not trying to take advantage of you. The assumption is that the need is real, that the need is genuine. What you’re really asking is, “If I see a beggar, do I give money to a beggar?” That’s not the point. There’s a general principle and that is the principle that when someone has need--legitimate, genuine need--and they come to you and ask for that need to be met, and you have the resource to do that, then you should do that.

Let me just say this. One of the principles that I operate on as I travel around the world is never to give any money to a beggar. None. Because when you do that, you make begging successful. And, when begging is successful, it becomes a career. When we were in India, for example, little children come up and literally hang on your clothes, hang on your arm, with these great, big, dark eyes, and they plead with you for money, and of course, you realize that around the corner is the guy who owns all of these little kids, who has them doing this, and collects 75% of everything that they collect. And, it’s an absolutely massive enterprise. You find that in most third world countries of our time. So, you have to be very judicious, and very careful that you don’t "grow a beggar," that you don’t feed that kind of a thing. But, where there is a situation you know to be a genuine need, and you have the opportunity to meet that need, you’re to do that. 

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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