When they found the same homeless guy, after being given a $100 boots from an NYPD officer, the shoes were gone. When asked, he said he hid them for they were too costly.
Some comments suggested he sold those shoes. Others frowned upon his greed to wish to get "a piece of the pie" for his fame going viral online. Most agreed that these people should be left to die..."No good deed goes unpunished".
Since the comments were from USATODAY readers, I am not too surprised at their extreme "right wing" responses. Since other than quoting the 4 spiritual laws, most evangelicals of the southern bible belt are incapable of affecting the cultures around them.
But back to the topic: Do we solve our skepticism before we provide charity? Do we confirm a person's true need or deception first? If doubt remains, do we refrain from charity?
That charity is the homework, even from God. So how then can charity be a homework, if we have cleared all doubts and other necessary "homework: security, comfort, convenience, etc." on our side before we provide charity? When we go preaching on the streets to strangers, or give charity to the poor and weak, we do not do it for their benefit alone. Not even merely our duty. But most importantly, I believe God will ask us: What have "YOU" learned in His homework.
Therefore, this is more for our own benefit than others'. When we preach to those on the streets, we find the kind of lost love and responsibility in us. When we give charity, we find that it is more important to build a sincere and responsible relationships with people around us than merely be satisfied with "good" deeds.
When God made something we considered as charity, a duty (for we sinners, cleansed by God, are mere unprofitable slaves of God - Luke 17:10). We do charity, unselfishly and humbly, for our own growth, towards the glory of God.