Mary I think you are 'giving to those who ask' in that you have made yourself available at certain times and locations. Even Christ went away from the multitudes sometimes. He had to, in order to be focused on His purpose of saving the world.

I do think the gospel is a lot more radical than we are comfortable with, but no, one doesn't give people stones when one can give bread. If someone asks me for help I'm not going to help them to drugs if I can possibly avoid it.

I often got approached by beggars when I was out walking around. I used to carry sandwiches in my purse. I could tell that most people were not really all that needy :-) (they were perfectly good sandwiches!); but a few people were truly grateful and I don't regret any sandwiches given and probably thrown away for their sakes. We try to give in goods and not cash when we are asked here. Sometimes I have just handed them money, when I had nothing else and no time to do anything else. God has given a great deal of grace to me though I have taken and abused the privileges I have time and again. I pray that He will convince them, if they have intentions of using the money for the wrong reasons, of His righteousness and of their sin, and that they will know His great patience and grace as I have.

In Mexico the situation is closer to what Pergy described, though I imagine that country has even more --and even more horrifying-- poverty than Mexico City. Yet there were many people obviously malnourished, who really tugged at your heart, and yes, sometimes it was impossible to give to all the outstretched hands.

__________________
Heidi
Indianapolis, Indiana

After two days, he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.