Should believers give to every person who asks?
Introduction
One of the most radical commands given by Jesus seems to suggest an unqualified mandate for giving: "Give to everyone who asks you" (Luke 6:30). Taken literally, this would exhaust a person's resources instantly. This command presents a real tension for the believer, forcing a decision between absolute, unthinking generosity and the biblical mandate for wise stewardship and effective compassion.
The solution is not to ignore the command, but to interpret it in light of the full counsel of Scripture, which emphasizes both the heart's attitude and the practical result of our actions.
Main: Three Principles for Discerning When to Give
Christian charity must be a blend of a generous heart and a wise mind that seeks the true good of the recipient.
1. The Principle of Radical Generosity (The Heart)
The starting point must always be the heart's desire to give, reflecting God's own radical generosity toward us.
The Command to Be Open-Handed: The Old Testament established the standard: “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The default inclination of the Christian heart should be to help those who present a genuine need.
Avoiding Judgment: We must not assume that the person asking is unworthy or lying. Our role is to show the love of God, not to sit in judgment over their circumstances. Luke 6:30 stands as a mandate against a stingy, hoarding spirit.
2. The Principle of Wisdom and Stewardship (The Mind)
Generosity without wisdom can lead to harm, both to the giver (poor stewardship) and to the receiver (enabling addiction or perpetuating dependency).
Effective Compassion: The Christian must strive for effective compassion. Giving cash to a person struggling with substance abuse may only enable their destructive habit, which is not truly loving. Wise giving seeks to address the root cause of the need, not just the symptom.
Prioritizing Resources: A Christian must steward their resources responsibly. This means prioritizing giving to their own family (1 Timothy 5:8), to the local church, and to ministries that demonstrate effectiveness and accountability. Unplanned, indiscriminate giving can deplete resources needed for these higher-priority duties.
The Rule of Work: Paul instructed: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). While this does not apply to the truly disabled or children, it does instruct us not to enable laziness or professional begging when meaningful work is available.
3. Practical and Long-Term Help (The Action)
In light of these tensions, the best Christian response often involves a creative and caring alternative to simply handing over cash.
Give Resources, Not Cash: Instead of cash, a Christian can often provide resources that meet the genuine, immediate need without enabling destructive habits. This could include buying a meal, offering a bus token, or connecting the person with a proven local ministry (a homeless shelter, a drug rehabilitation center) that provides long-term, holistic care.
Refer to the Church: The local church is God's primary method for distributing charity. By directing the person to the church's benevolence ministry, the Christian ensures the person receives holistic care (spiritual counseling, job resources, food) alongside immediate aid.
Conclusion
Should believers give to every person who asks? The Christian should operate with a generous heart that seeks to help, but with a wise mind that seeks the person’s true, long-term well-being.
While we may not give cash to every person, we can always give mercy, dignity, and a thoughtful attempt at effective help—which fulfills the command of Christ in the wisest way.
