Should we give money to beggars?

    When I was a teenager, I used to take a train to my church by myself in KL, Malaysia. I often saw beggars with shabby and disheveled clothes sitting on the ground at the corner of the train station, stretching out their hands. Some of them seemed to be disabled, some of them carried kids or toddlers with some cardboard sign or bowls in front of them. I would feel sorrow when I saw such people and cannot help them as I had no financial ability to help them. My parents just paid me enough money for my meals and offering to the church.

    Some news reported that the beggars would used on drugs, alcohol, fraud, or most of them were just too lazy to devote their strength in labor force. It would be better not to donate your pennies in their pockets because we do not know if they are really beggars or homeless. My kind offer will contribute their life to be more serious laziness than ever, or more often an addiction to cocaine or heroin, which can have fatal consequences. To this respond, I prefer to teach a person to fish than giving a fish.

    Nevertheless, the answer is subjective and based on my personal situation. However, acting on improving the lives of others is a great way to reinforce our sense of obligation and responsibility to our own ethical beliefs. When I was studying in high school, there was a student lost his parent accidentally and our teacher asked the classmates to help him. On that day, my mother gave me about RM50, which is far more than other classmates’ donation. I felt proud to expose the money on my teacher’s desk and showed it in front of my classmates. My teacher thanked me and praised about my generosity. With this moment, it inspired me to share what I have with a greater appreciation. I start nurturing my innate generosity and could even bring back a charity organization. Donating to charity organization is a major mood-booster. It will make me happier and more fulfilled. As an old saying says, it is far better to give than to receive.