The Bible commands us that we are to love our neighbor. These Scriptures tell us the same thing, but come with a warning.
"The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends." Proverbs 14:20, Amplified
The man with money has many superficial friends. Everyone wants to be close to him because they love the smell of money. A man with money is a man with means. But the poor man can do nothing for himself, let alone for someone else.
"He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellow man and himself], but happy - blessed and fortunate - is he who is kind and merciful to the poor." Proverbs 14:21, Amplified
We are commanded to love our neighbor by Jesus Himself. The question is asked who are neighbor is and the Lord tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Everyone is our neighbor in the eyes of the Lord. We are to love them despite skin color, race, religion or monetary value. If we turn our back on our neighbor then we are sinning.
I have to admit, I question the people sitting on the side of the of ramps of the freeways with signs. Beggars have admittedly stated that they make quite a bit of money on the side of the road. My father told me of a time that he watched as a couple he saw everyday day, begging, on his way to work get into a Beemer.
Remember the Bible never commands us to give them money, it tells us not to despise them. If you see a man, or woman, and are compelled to give money then do it. But we can also pray for those people, we can offer them a meal. There are plenty of things that we can do as a Christian to show love love of Christ.
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