King Benjamin Teaches Us How to Treat Beggars.

It's such a joy to study King Benjamin's mighty speech.  In chapter 4, verses 16-25 he talks about our treatment of those less fortunate than ourselves, specifically beggars.  Remember that this is assuming we have been truly converted to Christ and have obtained a remission for our sins.  Now we see people differently than we did as a "natural man".  Now we have love and charity and see those around us as fellow children of God.

Benjamin spends a good deal of his time trying to teach us how to deal with beggars.  He makes the following points:  (I know, I'm sorry that I always feel the need to summarize things, to create an outline.  It helps me see more clearly.)

• We need to succor those who are in need.
• We have no right to judge their condition and if we do we are called to repentance, and except we repent, we will lose our eternal reward.
• We are all beggars, because we must beg our God for everything we have.
• We also beg Him to forgive us for our sins.
• He is generous with us and forgives us and blesses us with an abundance of the Spirit.
• If God blesses us even though we haven't earned the blessings, we ought to bless others of His children.
• If we judge others and condemn them, our condemnation from God will be great and our substance will perish with us.
• Those poor who do not give to the beggar but would if they could, are not condemned; but if they withhold out of greed, they are coveting that which they do not have and are condemned.

I found this quote from President Joseph F. Smith:
"I have seen men go away from my door with good bread and butter in their hands (good enough for any king to eat, for my folks make good bread and good butter, as good as I ever ate on earth) and when out of the gate they have thrown it into the street. It was not food they wanted. They wanted money. For what? That they might go to some gambling [hall] or to some drinking saloon. Of course they are responsible for that. We can only judge by appearances and by the promptings of the good spirit within us; and it is better to give to a dozen that are unworthy than to turn away empty one worthy person." (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, Pr/RS Manual, p. 194)

As I approached Walmart the other day, I saw someone at the parking lot entrance/exit standing in the cold, holding up a sign.  A beggar.  My first thought was my usual one:  Oh no, I guess I'll use the other exit.  But on the way out, I forgot and found myself at the stop sign by the beggar.  King Benjamin's words came into my mind, so I found some money in my wallet and gave it to the woman.  Her sign said that her family was in need.  I don't know what she did with the money, whether she bought drugs for herself or food for her family, but obviously it's not my place to judge.  And I felt the Spirit telling me that I had done the right thing.