Good Monday morning if you're driving to work or driving to school or walking the dog,

whatever you're doing, welcome back and thanks for making the podcast a part of your weekly

routine. We really appreciate it. We start the week with a question from a listener named Kate

who lives in the bustling city of Cape Town. Pastor John, hello, I appreciate you and your

ministry from down here in South Africa, a country with an unemployment rate at 35% of

rate often mentioned as the highest in the world. On the ground, navigating beggars is daily life

for us. Here's a common daily scenario. You're sitting in your car to stop light. Someone approaches

your window to ask for money or food. You sit facing forward, ignoring them to focus on the traffic

light ahead until you finally drive off. Every time I do this, something doesn't feel right here,

especially with regards to Luke, chapter six, verse 30, we should give to everyone who asks.

But then what about second testimonies, three, ten? That text that calls for diligent work or else

you will not eat. I listened to APJ 80, had a handle, panhandlers from over nine years ago,

but there you didn't address this second text and I feel pulled between them.

Pastor John, what suggestions would you have to offer me?

Before I give some specific suggestions for how to put together

Jesus command to give to everyone who begs from you, Luke 630, and Paul's command that those

who are unwilling to work should not eat second Thessalonians 310, let me lay a little bit of

foundation that I think Jesus wants us to hear. And I'm really preaching to myself here,

mainly as I've over the years, analyzed my heart in dealing with folks who stand on the corner.

I walk by them almost every day, so she's not alone in South Africa here in the middle of Minneapolis.

I deal with this on foot, not just in the car, which makes it even more poignant, I think.

I think that Jesus radical, sometimes unqualified commands are intended,

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