What's the consensus on giving to panhandlers and other beggers?
It's a moral duty to give to give to folks down on their luck, yes, but I'm afraid I might be feeding someone's drug or alcohol addiction or unwillingness to work. It's no secret that many panhandlers are addicts and/or workshy and these people need a different kind of help than my loose change.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, am I guilty of sin if I give to a panhandler and they use the money I gave them to buy drugs? Or if I give to someone who's lying about their horrible situation and abusing the compassion of their fellow man? I don't mind giving money to those in need, but I want to be sure my money is going to feed a person or family that needs it, not on drugs or frivolities.
The age old "WWJD?" question comes to mind here, and I think in situations such as this, he'd rather cure them of their addictions than give them money. But maybe I'm misunderstanding Christ and some more knowledgeable Anons could give me insight.
Small anecdote from when I was younger. I started working in a gas station in a run down ghetto and there old black woman would panhandle for money outside. I gave her some money in my first encounter because she told me a story about her friend who was struggling to feed 5 children. However I saw her outside again another day, this time giving a completely different story, this time about how she needed bus fare to get to work. Some customers who were far more familiar with the area than my naive upper middle class white ass, told me how she does this all the time and how she spends the money on crack cocaine. I felt cheated and hurt, and disgusted that I was supporting such a harmful habit.
About a month after I stopped working there, I caught wind about how the police had picked her up when she was doing her daily hustle and she was going through rehab. This I think is a greater charity to individuals such as this than giving them money will ever be.
What are your thoughts /christian/? Yes or no to panhandlers?