Each of us has given alms at least once in our lives on the street, in a temple or on public transport. Some people do it automatically, others think about it and serve it, for example, only to children or the elderly. Some people throw change into their hands, others hand them large bills.
On the one hand, alms are a “plus” in karma. On the other hand, there is a belief that improperly given alms can harm the giver. There is an opinion that by giving to a beggar, we “buy” poverty and illness from him.
As the grandmothers bequeathed
It is believed that the most important thing at the moment of giving alms is a bright and sincere intention. In this case, any action will be correct.
You can often hear from people of the older generation that you need to give alms with your right hand, saying: “Let the hand of the giver not fail. Amen." With the right hand, because the right hand does the right thing.
More modern views are much more prosaic. Today, most often, the argument against alms can be simply banal disgust and fear. People who ask rarely look neat. Many of them are dressed in dirty clothes and have obvious signs of various diseases. We can say that beggars in the modern world are a kind of litmus test of society and its worldview as a whole. The way a passer-by treats the person asking also shows what kind of person he is.
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In addition, there is a belief that alms are not only a way to repay “debts” to the Universe, but also an opportunity to make room for something new.
Almsgiving - how to give alms correctly?
Almsgiving - how to give alms correctly
A man on the street begs for alms.
You look at him and realize that he is a so-called “professional beggar.” What to do in such a situation? One of the main virtues, as the holy fathers teach, is reasoning. It can be applied to everything we do, including works of mercy. Everything from helping the poor on the porch to volunteer work requires a reasonable approach, but sometimes it is very difficult to figure out what to do. Hegumen Nektary (Morozov) talks about reasonable mercy. To serve or not to serve?
Very often, as a priest, I am asked the following question: should one always give alms to those asking for alms on the porch in a church or on the streets? People of my and older generations remember a time when there were no beggars, that is, those who found themselves below the last poverty line, on our streets at all. And when they just began to appear in the early 1990s, each was perceived as a phenomenon that would certainly cut into the heart, evoking a feeling of compassion and a desire to help.
But years have passed, and poor, homeless people on our streets, especially near our churches, have become a completely familiar phenomenon - so much so that many pass by them without even noticing, just as they do not notice a tree, a bench, a lamppost. But if a person does not want to become completely hardened in heart, he must definitely notice these people and try not to ignore their needs.
Yes, of course, we know that among those who beg on the streets, near temples, there are people who are part of some kind of “pyramid”, “organization” of beggars, and they give most of what they earn during the day to some to your boss. But, firstly, this does not always happen, and we cannot always determine “by eye” whether a person asks on his own or whether he asks as a member of some structure. But even if he is in an “organized criminal community of beggars,” he is still hungry and homeless, and no matter who he gives the money to, he still needs at least some amount to get through the day. This is all very difficult: if we don’t give him money and he doesn’t bring the required minimum to the general treasury, he might be beaten or mocked - this also happens. Therefore, it seems to me that it is not worth completely refusing to help such people with money. And you shouldn't do particularly complex calculations. It is better to ask yourself how best to help.
If a person comes to us
The question “How to help?” constantly confronts church rectors, priests, and parish social workers. People come and beg continuously. Often the person asking tells a story that is already familiar to everyone: he was traveling from one city to another, he was robbed, his passport was taken away, he needed money for a ticket. This kind of thing actually sometimes happens to people who do not live very meaningfully and orderly. And there is a risk that, once in another city, they will get stuck there and turn into real, as we call them today, homeless people, who, among other changes, will experience a dropout from society. And this loss can be so fatal that the person himself will no longer want to return to society, no matter how much you rehabilitate him. If he is sent home, then there is at least some hope that he will not disappear.
For those asking for money for a ticket home, it’s better to buy this ticket and make sure they leave
With experience, we came to the understanding that it is impossible to give alms (money) into the hands of such people, it is better to buy a ticket and put them on the train. True, some of these tickets managed to be returned, jumping out of the train at the last moment, and get at least a few pennies for them. Now, as a rule, we try to send a person by bus - in this case, no one will return his money. Practice shows that if he really needs to go, then he goes, and if he doesn’t, then he will explain to us that he will buy the ticket himself, that he cannot leave at the moment, and so on. To which we reply: “When you can, come.”
And, of course, we give such a person food so that he can feed himself, and it doesn’t matter whether he deceives us or not. It is important that he is in trouble since he came.
As for the beggars on the street, they can also be helped as much as possible and reasonably. Firstly, they most often stand in the same places, and you can give someone a small alms one day, another day the same, and then just take food or clothes from home specifically for this person. The main thing is to understand that when there is a person next to you who needs help, it is natural to provide him with this help. You need to accustom your heart to this natural impulse.
It happens that you leave the house and you meet one beggar, a second, a third, a fourth... and the question involuntarily arises: “Should I really give everyone money? I don’t have enough for everyone!” It is absolutely clear that a person must measure his mercy with his capabilities. If you are short on funds, then give a little - as much as you can. And if someone, in response to your sacrifice, throws you alms back and says that he doesn’t take small money, you shouldn’t be offended or lamented, you just don’t need to give this particular beggar any more money: he apparently doesn’t really need it.
The Gospel says: “Give to the one who asks,” and no further instruction follows: but first go and figure it out, find out whether he is deceiving you, whether he really needs it. However, we must not forget about common sense. In my opinion, it is more logical, for example, to give alms to an ancient grandmother, whom even the wind shakes, than to a completely strong and healthy man, without any injuries or physical defects, who can go to work as a janitor, even as a loader and earn some money.
There are situations when people from other cities in our region come to us. You ask a question: why didn’t the person go to the temple, which is located in his village, but spent the money he needed so much to come here? And when you hear some complex explanations for this, you understand that something is clearly wrong here. It often happens that people are not at all denied help in their native village, but they still make these kinds of visits to other temples, because they calculate that this will bring them a certain profit.
Of course, we should not fence ourselves off from people by territorial or any other boundaries: if a person comes to our temple, it means that we need to try to help him at least in some way: if there is no money, offer clothes, food. But, nevertheless, it is natural to appeal to the mercy of those who are nearby in everyday life. A Christian must, first of all, also respond to the requests of those around him. In some situations, you can not just give alms, but try to find out how else you can help. Although it is very important to be reasonable here in order not to get into some difficult situation, you need a certain life experience. After all, sometimes a beggar on the street can turn out to be a swindler, a robber, and even a real criminal, so, of course, you don’t need to invite him into your home and register him there.
I was asked the question: is it right to help with personal funds if some organization or temple where such a petitioner is applying does not have funds now? and is it right to stop this assistance at some point if the applicant returns to you personally again and again? In my opinion, you need to act according to your strength: that is, your excess should be a replenishment of his lack (see: 2 Cor. 8:14). And if you yourself have a deficiency... In general, if possible.
By the way, in all our churches there are mugs with the inscription: “For social activities.” Naturally, some money from there is transferred to the diocesan department of social ministry, and some could remain at the parish in order to provide assistance to those who need it. But, unfortunately, very, very little is donated to social activities.
Drunk in the cold
Another problem, relevant mainly for the winter period, is people lying on the street in a state of alcoholic intoxication. Here again you need to use common sense. If someone has a car, and the person lying down does not give the impression of being homeless, then we should try to find out where he lives and where it is best to take him. I had a case: one day in a very cold winter, my brother and I were driving down the street and saw such a man lying down. Some people stood near him, not knowing what to do. In appearance, he was not a homeless person, not a degenerate person, he was simply in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication. I pulled him to his feet, shook him properly and demanded that he tell me where he lived. The man had some awakening of consciousness, he answered me briefly, and then I just took the phone out of his pocket, called his mother to find out the address, then we loaded this man into the car and drove him home - his mother was simply happy. It turned out that the man’s wife broke up with him, he started drinking, lost his job - this happened in just a few days. If we left him lying there, he would most likely freeze.
If there is no car and there is no way to call the relatives of such a poor person, then it is best to call an ambulance without saying that the person is drunk, and, if possible, wait for it. It often happens, unfortunately, that ambulance employees refuse to take drunk people, much less heavy alcoholics, drug addicts or homeless people, to the hospital. In this case, you can record both the ambulance employees and the car number on your mobile phone and send this video to some online publication that specifically collects and publishes such evidence. I am sure that after several such publications with faces and car license plates, some movement towards changing attitudes towards drunks will gradually begin.
In any case, a person who is freezing on the street must definitely be dealt with. At the same time, no one forbids showing basic ingenuity and healthy practicality in order to significantly simplify the task. For example, if you need to run to an urgent meeting and you make sure that those who will not leave a person in trouble are staying here, then you should take advantage of this.
Almsgiving and helping the homeless sometimes resembles fighting against windmills, because they are sometimes in a state of such disintegration of personality that they do not want to work or live an ordinary life in normal conditions, but return to the streets again and again. I am not making any distinction here between those people who need to be saved and those who do not. But it happened that they tried to help once, or twice, or three times, and the person who was taken somewhere from the cold would again find himself lying drunk in the same place. And at some point the thought came that your activity, unfortunately, was devoid of meaning, no matter how scary it may be. But still, it seems to me that first you need to gain some experience in helping people, regardless of their condition, and then, willy-nilly, you will learn to distinguish when you can provide what help and when it will be productive.
In general, unfortunately, our task very often is only to give such people the opportunity to live a little longer: it is extremely rare to radically change their lives. Many have already crossed a certain line and will not return back. They already live in a completely different world and according to different laws. It happens that someone complains: we give them money, but they drink. It’s bad, of course... But in winter this becomes one of the ways of survival for them - perhaps the most effective for those who are deprived of any kind of shelter.
Feed the hungry, visit hospitals and prisons?
In the Gospel passage about the Last Judgment, we see that people are condemned who did not feed the hungry, did not give drink to the thirsty, and did not visit the suffering in hospitals and prisons. How can a modern person avoid such guilt? If a person has sufficient funds and sufficient time, he can go where help is needed: institutions for orphans or the elderly, prisons, families in difficult life situations? - and provide this help.
If a person is forced to work a lot and does not have much money, then he should probably be content with those opportunities that the Lord Himself sends. And they appear before our eyes almost every day. And it’s completely natural when everything starts with helping those poor people who are in the church and around the church, when for this help parishioners can somehow unite and one will do one thing, another will do another, a third will do a third. Because, of course, it is a noble and important thing to save a homeless person who finds himself in such a situation from starvation and cold death, but, probably, an even more important thing is to prevent that person who may also find himself in this situation from sliding down. . Then we will really save him. In any case, if a person is looking for such activity and his heart aches about it, then the Lord will certainly send him the opportunity and occasions to help someone.
Hegumen Nektary (Morozov)
Refusal to give alms.
In any case, the decision to give alms is a personal matter for everyone. A person has the right to independently manage his money, no matter what amounts are involved. Everyone has their own financial condition, attitude towards money and signs associated with it. You cannot condemn a person for refusing to give alms.
However, you need to remember to treat other people with respect, no matter who they are. You can even refuse a request in different ways. Agree, you can rudely throw out: “God willing” or “Go to work,” or you can simply shake your head negatively or say: “Sorry, I can’t right now.”
The fact that a person is not standing with his hand outstretched does not mean at all that the money in his pocket is not the last. Not everyone can afford to give them to other people. But rudeness in this situation can hardly be justified.
How much alms should you give?
Very often I heard the same question: how much alms is appropriate to give to the poor?
There is a golden rule: women should be given silver coins, and men should be given yellow coins. Otherwise, you risk impoverishment yourself, and soon.
Giving an even number of coins is also prohibited - this will also lead to poverty. For the same reason, you should refrain from giving paper money, even if it has a small denomination - only share small change.
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Sometimes it happens that a beggar asks for a certain amount - do not pass by this and give him exactly the amount that he asks. In this case, the money should not be given in person - place it on any surface or next to the person asking. This way you will be able to attract money and great financial success into your life.
How to give alms correctly?
For those who believe in omens, it is important to learn how to give alms correctly.
It's difficult to present without judging. Believers claim that there is a universal key to the questions of what is right and what is wrong - this is love. Whatever is done with love is right. When giving alms, you should pray in your soul for the person asking, and think something good about him.
You don’t need to think about whether you are doing well or badly, don’t make distinctions between men and women, old people and young people, don’t pay attention to nationality.
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There is an opinion among clergy that it is not worth giving money to people who drink. It's better to give them food. After all, by giving them money, we encourage their “slippery” path. The same rule applies to children: it is believed that money spoils them.
Where can you give alms?
You can give alms if the beggars are:
- At the entrance to “God’s” places: churches, chapels, holy springs (at the entrance).
- At the entrance to the market.
- At public transport stops.
- At the entrance to government buildings.
- If they ask for animal feed (in this case, you can add a little to the person asking).
- At government agencies (for example, the registry office). It is believed that in this case, the person asking takes on the sins of the giver along with the money, giving him in return a happy future, wealth and prosperity.
There are situations when a beggar asks for a small amount, and having received it, asks for more. In this case, it is customary to give first, but say the phrase a second time:
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Who can you give alms to?
In this case, it doesn't matter whether he really needs it. You are under God's protection. He sees everything. He understands everything.
If you have some spare change at the end of the week, give it to the beggars at the temple on Sunday. You will thereby free up financial energy channels. Through these channels, financial flow will rush to you.
In other cases, I proceed as follows.
I don't give money. I ask what the person needs. For example, if a beggar needs food, I buy food.
But more often than not, after such a question, I am sent to a place where I have never traveled before.
You cannot submit:
- For those who sit below ground level (in underground passages). They say that the earth is the border between worlds. By giving alms below her level, you can accidentally give your benefit to the lower world.
- Drunk.
- People sitting at intersections. An intersection, like an underground passage, is considered a place with negative energy.
- People sitting near medical institutions, cemeteries and near sacred trees.
- People holding a sign or a child.
- In addition, you cannot serve on your birthday, christening or on Wednesdays. Wednesday is Mercury day. Mercury is the god of trade. Giving alms these days means failure in business.
- Near bread and dairy stores. You also cannot give change from these products. It is believed that in this way one can share the fate of the person asking.
- It should be given, without touching the person asking, with small and medium coins.
- Coins of even denominations cannot be served.
- You cannot touch the person asking.
- You cannot look the person asking in the eyes.
- Under no circumstances should you expect that your alms will be credited to you somewhere. Even if you do not brag out loud about your action, even the thought of it is a manifestation of pride. You need to serve from the heart. Only in this case will the deed really “count” and have good power for the giver.
In addition to beggars, there are a huge number of living beings on the street who also need help. These are sick people, children deprived of parents, and even animals. Today there are many ways to help those in need.
In any case, in the process of alms, the most important thing is not the signs or the place, but your sincerity and good intentions.
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