The Christian Ethics of Street-Corner Generosity with Dr. David W. Jones | FaithFi
June 8, 2026
The Christian Ethics of Street-Corner Generosity with Dr. David W. Jones
Faith & Finance with Rob West
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” — Proverbs 19:17
As Christians, we’re called to care for the poor. But what should we do when someone asks us for money on the street? Should we give cash? Offer food? Keep walking? And how do we show compassion without causing harm?
Dr. David W. Jones joins us to help answer those questions. He’s a senior professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has written extensively on moral, theological, and financial issues. He also completed his PhD with a focus on Christian financial ethics.
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” — Proverbs 19:17
As Christians, we’re called to care for the poor. But what should we do when someone asks us for money on the street? Should we give cash? Offer food? Keep walking? And how do we show compassion without causing harm?
Dr. David W. Jones joins us to help answer those questions. He’s a senior professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has written extensively on moral, theological, and financial issues. He also completed his PhD with a focus on Christian financial ethics.
According to Dr. Jones, the Bible is clear: God’s people should never be indifferent to poverty. Jesus says, “Give to the one who begs from you” (Matthew 5:42), and 1 John 3:17 warns against closing our hearts to a brother in need.
But the harder question is not whether we should care. It is how we should care wisely.
Start With the Heart
When we see someone asking for help, our first instinct may be suspicion. We may assume the person is lazy, addicted, unwilling to work, or responsible for their situation.
But before deciding what to give, we should examine our own hearts.
Dr. Jones describes this as the danger of being “middle class in spirit”—quietly believing we have what we have because we worked hard, while the person in need must have failed. But Jesus calls us to be “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). The gospel reminds us that God did not wait for us to deserve His mercy. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
That does not mean every request should be met with cash. But it does mean every person should be met with dignity.
Compassion Requires Wisdom
Giving cash directly to someone on the street is not necessarily wrong, but it may not always be the best way to help. If the money is used to support addiction or another destructive habit, our gift could unintentionally cause harm.
Christian love seeks the good of the other person. That means generosity should be guided by wisdom, not guilt or impulse.
One practical option is to offer non-cash help. You might keep granola bars, bottled water, or other simple items in your car. When possible, you could offer to buy a meal. These small acts can meet a real need while reducing the risk of enabling harm.
The goal is not to create a rigid rule, but to ask: What is the most loving and responsible way to help in this situation?
Do What You Can With What You Know
In a brief encounter, you probably will not know someone’s full story. You may not know whether their poverty is connected to job loss, addiction, illness, abuse, poor choices, or circumstances beyond their control.
God does not require us to know everything. He calls us to be faithful.
That means preparing ahead of time, responding with compassion, and helping in the wisest way available. Sometimes that may be food. Sometimes it may be a meal. Sometimes it may be directing someone to a local ministry or shelter equipped to provide deeper care.
Think Beyond the Moment
Some needs require immediate aid. Others require long-term involvement.
If someone is suffering because of a disaster or emergency, immediate help may be exactly what is needed. But when poverty is tied to addiction, exploitation, family breakdown, or long-term instability, a developmental approach is often more effective.
That may involve relationships, accountability, recovery, job assistance, counseling, and support from a local church or ministry.
Most of us cannot meet every need on our own. But we can support trusted ministries that serve the homeless and poor with both compassion and structure.
Start With What Is Closest
The needs around us can feel overwhelming. Hunger, homelessness, addiction, and poverty are everywhere. We may want to help everyone, but we cannot.
Dr. Jones points to the principle of moral proximity. We are often most responsible for the needs closest to us—our family, church, neighborhood, and local community.
You may not be able to solve world hunger. But you may be able to help someone in your church, support a local shelter, serve with a ministry, or build a relationship with someone God regularly places in your path.
God has not called you to solve every problem. He has called you to be faithful with what is in front of you.
Generosity Reflects the Gospel
When someone asks for help, we should not respond with contempt or indifference. We should respond as people who have received mercy.
That does not mean giving cash every time. But it does mean asking God for wisdom, treating people with dignity, and being prepared to help in ways that truly serve their good.
Biblical generosity is both compassionate and discerning. It refuses to look away from need, but it also seeks to help without causing harm.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:
I recently received a personal injury settlement. After paying off our cars and nearly all our debt, my wife and I have about $50,000 in a high-yield savings account, no kids, no mortgage, and only two small interest-free revolving accounts left. I’m 44, earning about $80,000 to $100,000 a year, and my wife earns about $50,000. Should we invest all of this money, or is it okay to enjoy some of it? What investment options should we consider?
We have an investment property that’s either paid off or could be paid off with cash. Since it’s basically our retirement savings and we’re around 55, we’re trying to decide whether to keep it or sell it. If we sell, is there a way to roll the proceeds into a retirement plan, and how should we think through that decision?
Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God’s resources.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
