A young man in parking lot asking for money, what would you do?

He told me his pickup and gas can were up the road. What would you do? I told him I would leave money at the gas station in the same parking lot. He walked away. What would you do?

Anonymous2013-02-05T12:42:49Z

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You thought fast and did the right thing. The fact that he walked away told the whole story. Good for you.

OverRuled232013-02-08T17:16:58Z

"Pickup and gas can were up the road?" Red Flag right there-he thought you'd fall for it.

You did the right thing. Who knows-he could have had someone else sitting in his pickup truck, slouched down in his seat. Go there, and all bets would have been off.

I would have said: "Sorry, don't have any", gotten into my car, dialed 911 and given a full description of the guy.

?2013-02-05T02:31:37Z

I would say sorry, don't have any money and keep walking. Too many of these people are career beggars.
I once came out of a building downtown, and a middle-aged woman stopped me by the door and started giving me a sob story about an emergency. She needed some money right away for a cab to get to her sick mother at the hospital. I didn't believe her and kept walking. About a week later, the same woman stopped me again, same place, same story. I guess she tried this with so many people she didn't realize she had already tried it with me.

Evangelist2013-02-04T21:53:26Z

You can't be too careful these days - sounds like you did the right thing. I've had it happen to me a few times - Some I have helped and one similar to your situation wanted me to follow him to the gas station - after we got there he tried to tell me he left his drivers license at home in his wallet - I got out of ther fast!! and I did not get him any gas:D

One lady was in a Kroger parking lot - she was crying and told me her story - all I had was $6 - the Lord laid it on my heart to give it to her - I did and also invited her to church. A couple days later I went to 7-eleven - pumped my gas $7 and went in the store got some coffee and when the cashier rang me up - they could not find where I had gotten $7 in gas - my car was still at the pump - so he said you don't have to pay - we cannot find that you got gas. True Story :D I know the Lord blesses in different ways especially when we obey his voice.

Jodi D2013-02-11T01:39:44Z

I don't have a policy on this issue and I'm not consistent. I do what feels right at the time. I have sometimes given away my last $5, and sometimes I've said "no" when I had plenty of money. I never regret giving, but I often feel bad about not giving. What if I turned away the only truly needy person who ever asked me for help?

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