As the number of beggars on our streets increases, even many believers harden their hearts and turn their eyes elsewhere. The number of beggars in the Finnish Capital Region and other big towns has multiplied in recent years. They mostly come from Romania and Bulgaria. Efforts have been made to prevent begging, even to eliminate it with the help of the order law in 2010. The ban was not accepted and it would have been blatantly against people's basic rights and would have been the wrong way to try to prevent publicly visible oppression of people in working life and poverty. The crimes of beggars who occasionally come to Finland from EU countries should be prevented in advance. How it happens is the task of politicians and authorities.
What advice does the Bible give for the problem of poverty?
Nowhere in the Bible is begging forbidden, but instead in many places we are encouraged to help them and show them mercy and love. In April of last year, perhaps the most extreme right-wing government in our history was voted into power in Finland. The left-wing government that preceded it had indebted Finland to a historic amount during its 4-year term with a completely irresponsible wasteful policy.
It is clear that Finland's indebtedness must now be brought under control, but not in such a way that the poor are taken away from the social benefits, without which they will lose their housing - because the salary income is not enough to pay the rent - and as a result they will also lose their jobs. As a result, the number of Finnish homeless beggars will increase significantly in the next few years.
If our current government had acted honestly, then the necessary spending savings should have been collected with additional taxes from middle and high income earners by tightening the taxation of their salary, dividends and side income. It would have been in accordance with Christian ethics and instructions. That is why the KD representatives in the current government (Christian Democrats) give a really bad testimony of their Christian faith through unfair legislation.
Special case 30.7. of giving alms
I already knew in advance that when I was walking to the center of the town of Turku for shopping, I would see some beggars from abroad sitting on the side of the street with a cardboard mug in their hands so that a passer-by would give them a coin or two. That's why I - as often before - put a €2 coin in my pocket for some beggar.
Before that, I went to the pharmacy to buy asthma medicine. I was going to buy two loose packs of Symbicort Inhaler and I asked the young friendly woman, the pharmacist, that if I buy the two packs, will I get a statutory price reduction of 65% on both? She said that I can and if I buy a big 3-pack of it, I will save €2 on the price and I will get the same price reduction of 65% for all three.
When I heard that I would get a 2€ savings, I immediately realized that my intention to give that 2€ coin to one beggar was especially pleasing to my Savior Adonai Yeshua. I bought the 3-pack and got a saving of €2, and since now my asthma medication (together with the previous ones) will last until the end of July next year, I will actually get an additional saving of a good one euro, because in Finland the VAT (value added tax) on medicines will rise from 10% by government regulation to 14% from 1 January 2025.
I gave that €2 coin to an old Romanian woman who was sitting on a dusty street with a mug of cardboard in her hand. I smiled while giving the coin and at the same time wished: "May Yeshua bless you!" She raised her hands in thanks, crossed them and wished me: "May Jesus bless you!" I immediately felt great joy in my heart and great love of Yehowah Elohim. The NT promise was fulfilled: "A joyful giver is loved by Elohim!"
I did not tell that incident to brag, but as an exhortation to you readers who have not been in the habit of giving anything to the hard-pressed, hungry and homeless beggars on the streets. Next time, please, give a coin or if you're rich, give a note to the beggar you meet on the street. Give it with blessing and love, and you will also experience the love of Yehowah Elohim!
The need for aid in the world will grow a lot in the next few years
If Yehowah Elohim has also granted you the part of a joyful giver, then always be diligent in using that talent, because through it you can help many people rise up from (perhaps) only temporary poverty and thus give them more time to search the real purpose for their existence. Then they can, as if by groping, find connection with their Creator. After that they can come to faith in HaMashiach Yeshua and through that at the end of their sanctification achieve salvation!
Especially in countries at war, such as Israel, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, just to name a few, the need for aid is already enormous and will only increase as the wars drag on and especially as they escalate. Therefore, we should extend our helping hands to help them and pray for peace for Israel, Jerusalem, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and for all the chosen ones of the New Covenant in all those countries where they are oppressed and persecuted! Those countries are numerous!
The giving of alms, the giving of tithes, the giving of various thanksgiving and praise offerings and other voluntary donations, fasting and prayers are, in addition to the proclamation of the Salvation Message, such living acts of love to which we are called as the children of the Living Elohim and as the disciples of Adonai Yeshua. It is the prerogative of the Royal Clergy, so let us be diligent in all good deeds of love and do them with joy!
Songs related to the topic
Please note: Our Savior's original name in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach HaNotzri
The Servant Song
Light At The End Of The Darkness
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Cornerstone
Come Holy Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-cVtYMccaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-cVtYMccaE
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