God says, “Feed the hungry and help others in need.” How I do I know they are using the money I give to help their need and not to feed their addictio

Hey Sarah and Tally this John Lee I hope I can answer this question for you. You are right when you say that God wants us to feed the hungry and help others in need. All throughout the Bible there are very explicit instructions on how we are to treat the poor. Here is one account that is very poignant.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

God said that we will always have the poor with us and it is true, as you look around and see the number of homeless people in our area. Not just homeless, but there are many that just find it difficult to make ends-meat. It is a responsibility of ours, and a command from God, to take care of the needy; if we don’t there will be stiff penalties.

Proverbs 21:13

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

I’m going to be honest with you; I find this to be very difficult for me to do at times because you don’t know what people are going to do with the money you give them. What has helped me in the past is finding out what there immediate need is. If it’s food, I will buy them food, if it’s clothes, then buy them clothes. It may take a little more effort and time to do it this way, but I think you minister more to them this way. However, if God is leading you to give them money, do it.

James 2:16
If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

Bottom line is, if the Lord is leading you to do something for the poor and needy, do whatever you can to meet that need, just be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and you will always make the right decision.