Dealing with a Moochinary

Tomorrow is Labor Day, which one dictionary defines as “a public holiday or day of festivities held in honor of working people, in the US and Canada on the first Monday in September, in many other countries on May 1.” Despite the Bible’s commandments to have a good work ethic, some missionaries are more like “moochinaries”, begging in the name of the Lord. I’ve dealt with a few especially online.

Three years ago, a Facebook friend who called himself “The Thankful Leper” sent me a message asking for money. Until then, I never had any interaction with this man since accepting his friend request. Initially, I replied with a link to my “Discernment for Donations” article. That was to explain why I don’t give money in response to unsolicited emails. He immediately responded by saying he won’t play “scripture ping pong” but quoted verses about why I should help him financially. 

This man went on to say, “If you can't help me in that way I’d be happy to move in with you and you can take care of me that would be a better blessing.” He lived in Dallas while I was hundreds of miles away in Minnesota. I pointed out I’m a traveling missionary who lives out of a suitcase and doesn’t have a permanent home. 

The Thankful Leper then suggested I partner with him calling this “a divine appointment.” I told him, “I’m a believer...not a beggar.” (I look to God as my source and avoid asking people for money while this professional panhandler had a GoFundMe page that collected over $24,000 within two years). He went on to quote more Bible verses trying to put a guilt trip on me. Since he handled the word of God deceitfully (2 Corinthians 4:2) and wasn’t teachable, I unfriended him.

Jesus never had to beg for His needs to be met. The Apostle Paul supported himself by making tents but later wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:14 (NIV), “…the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Whether you are called to the ministry or the marketplace, the Lord wants your work to glorify Him. We are not to be slothful or have a sense of entitlement.

“For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies…And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 14

Angels in Disguise?

I go out of my way to minister to beggars. With rare exceptions, I have a policy not to give them money. Instead, I offer snacks to the hungry. While many have legitimate needs, professional panhandlers will use deceptive tactics to extract cash from undiscerning donors.

One night while evangelizing in south Minneapolis with Living Word Christian Center, a man with a gas can came up to us asking for money. He claimed his car got stalled on the freeway a short distance away. Evangelism Pastor Nick Kinn was with me and offered to fill up this man’s can if he followed us to a nearby gas station. He hesitated and then claimed the gas wouldn’t be enough to get him home. This beggar wasn’t honest with us.

A few friends of mine freely give to panhandlers because Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” In Genesis 18, Abraham offered hospitality to three men passing by. Two of them were angels. These same beings later stayed with Lot and his family in Sodom. Notice the angels were invited and didn’t insist on being served.

I’ve had bizarre incidents with scraggly beggars claiming to be angels. Don’t forget the devil can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) who comes to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (John 10:10). That would include a believer’s finances. On the other hand, God uses angels to bring provision to the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). One angel brought food to Elijah in the desert (1 Kings 19:5-8). 

Once I visited a church to hear Jerry Savelle minister there. Near the end of the service, a man sitting behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, “The Lord told me to give you this.“ It was a $100 bill! It was the first time a total stranger gave me money. This incident has frequently come up in my mind whenever I hear somebody talk about angels. For that reason, I believe the person who gave me the $100 was an angel. 

During a recent evangelism outing in downtown Minneapolis, a man came up to my team saying he had just finished working as a window washer and needed $16 to get his car out of a parking garage. A woman with me handed him the remaining dollar in her purse. I thought of offering to walk with him to the garage and use my debit card to help get his car out, but we were waiting for another team that was running late. We ended up praying for this man before he continued down the street. The possibility of him being an angel crossed my mind. Later, it occurred to me angels can fly and translate from one place to another. They don’t need money for transportation expenses.

We should be willing to help those in need but not give out of manipulation or just in case they might be a divine messenger. I doubt God would have angels disguised as drunken homeless people who use profanity or solicit funds in areas where it is illegal to do so. Use wisdom, folks!

“Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” - 1 Corinthians 6:3

Believing vs. Begging

Back in 2008, my then-roommate and I took a road trip to attend revival meetings in Lakeland, Florida. When a friend found out about it, he sent me an irate email because I didn’t ask him to go with us. His anger was unwarranted for I had no idea he wanted to go to Lakeland. He also didn’t consider the possibility of there not being enough room in the car for him and his luggage. On top of that, this man was unemployed and probably lacked the money to cover his food and lodging. I pointed these things out to my friend and he apologized. But then he sent another email asking me to pray that someone would take him to Lakeland and pay all his expenses. 

Some Christians who know it’s God’s will for them to prosper still come across as beggars. I’ve had friends send me emails saying they are “believing God” for finances but then ask for money. One of them even accused me of being a moocher. Yet this same person has often solicited donations from me and other people.

Certainly, Christians should have compassion toward brethren who are struggling financially. Jesus exhorts us to have a generous spirit in Matthew 5:42, “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” On the other hand, Proverbs 3:27 in the New Living Translation says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 also says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” God may not want you enabling someone who is being lazy, mismanages their finances (which includes not tithing) or isn’t being truthful about their needs. I’ve seen Christians hit people up for money for particular purposes but then spend it on something else.

As a missionary, I know it’s tempting to let people know when you are facing a financial challenge. One rule I follow on the mission field is to avoid asking for money. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” One of my spiritual heroes is George Müller. This 19th-century evangelist operated orphanages in England totally by faith. He only accepted unsolicited freewill offerings.  

I’m not saying it’s wrong for ministers to let people know how they can make a donation if they feel led of the Lord to do so (I do that at the end of my monthly newsletter and on my website). Then again, I know of ministries that prospered without making any financial appeals. Individuals who claim to “live by faith” should take their needs before the Lord and let Him decide whom He wants to use to bless them. Faith doesn’t put pressure on people.

I’ve also taken a similar approach regarding places to stay. Many times people invited me into their homes without me requesting lodging. Occasionally, I felt led to ask for accommodations but usually at places I stayed at before or was referred to them by somebody else. Jesus even invited Himself to stay at Zacchaeus’ house for He knew the tax collector would receive Him joyfully (Luke 19:5-6). At the same time, it’s best to avoid extended stays in another person’s home unless the Lord gives you favor at a particular place. Proverbs 25:17 says, "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.”

One time the Lord led me to fly to Charlotte, North Carolina for a series of meetings at MorningStar Ministries. I arrived in town with enough money to stay one night at a Motel 6. The next day, a minister I produced an album for offered an advance on royalties, allowing me to stay at Motel 6 for another night. This minister also arranged for me to spend the following night at the Heritage Grand Hotel on the MorningStar grounds. The morning after, I had to check out at that hotel since I didn’t have enough money to continue staying there. I hung around the lobby working on my laptop and later went to the evening service while trusting God for a place to stay. I was determined to let Him provide without asking anyone for help. 

The hotel staff graciously kept my luggage behind their counter until something opened up for me. By 12:00 midnight, almost everyone had left the sanctuary area and I still didn’t have a place to stay. I felt a need to inform the hotel staff of my situation. They thanked me for doing so and said I could continue hanging around the lobby area but wasn’t allowed to sleep. So I resumed work on my laptop. 

Finally, at 2 a.m., a woman struck up a conversation with me. She soon recognized me as one of her Facebook friends. I didn’t say anything about a need for lodging until she asked where I was staying. My friend then called a friend of hers who let me stay in one of the cabins right across the street from MorningStar! To my surprise, my host later gave me $25 for food. My Facebook friend also bought two CDs from me.

Are you facing a need in your life? I encourage you not to be a beggar but a believer in Jehovah Jireh.

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19

Discernment For Donations

Often I receive Facebook friend requests from ministers (mostly from Africa and Asia) who eventually ask for money. This is despite a notice on my wall clearly stating I do not send donations in response to unsolicited emails. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (KJV) tells us “…to know them which labour among you.” While some of the appeals I receive may be for legitimate purposes, many others are fraudulent. I’ve seen Christians hit people up for money for particular purposes but then spend it on something else.

I prefer giving to preachers whose teachings have impacted my life. As Galatians 6:6 says, “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” However, we must watch out for scammers setting up Facebook pages pretending to be well-known ministers. A fellow evangelist told me about a time he exchanged messages with someone claiming to be Joyce Meyer. He knew it wasn’t real when “Joyce” started asking for money.

One article I found online listed these excellent suggestions for giving…

1) Let the world take care of worldly charities.

2) Support your local church with tithes and offerings.

3) Decide which Christian ministries to support.

4) Give generously but with discernment.

Jesus commended the unjust steward in Luke 16:8 “…because he had dealt shrewdly.” He went on to say, “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” Believers shouldn’t be gullible and haphazardly give money to anyone approaching them for a donation. One can discern who to give to by reading the Word of God consistently, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and using common sense.   

God wants us to be cheerful givers…but also smart ones.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” - Matthew 10:16

Pursuing Panhandlers

In recent years, I’ve gone out of my way to offer food plus gospel tracts to beggars. Last Tuesday night during an evangelism outreach in St. Paul, I got to minister to at least three such people.

As the church van I was riding in got off Interstate 94 at the Snelling Avenue exit, I noticed a woman holding a sign asking for help because she was supposedly raising her grandchildren. After the van was parked a few blocks away, I walked back to the offramp this woman had been standing by. I brought with me a bottle of water I planned on giving her. Instead, a man was standing there (but without a sign) and so I offered him a tract. Seconds later, that woman drove by in a nice-looking vehicle with two adult passengers. It appeared she was part of a team of professional panhandlers. The car stopped at the corner long enough for me to hand the woman a tract. 

Then I walked back across the bridge to minister to two other panhandlers in the area. The first one already knew the Lord and told me he used to own a limousine service until his wife divorced him and "took him to the cleaners." In response, I shared testimonies of God providing for me on the mission field without having to beg. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” 

Next, I spent several minutes ministering to a younger beggar who had been turned off to the things of God because of his parents becoming Jehovah’s Witnesses. He wouldn’t pray with me but listened to what I had to say. He was stunned when I offered him the bottle of water. I told him it was from the Lord who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Sometimes God has directed me not to approach certain panhandlers. It’s unfortunate many of them here in America are con artists. Nevertheless, changed lives can result when we make ourselves available to be a blessing to those in need...materially and spiritually.

“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink...inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” - Matthew 25:35, 40