Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on an important theme within the windows of the temple of truth, namely how to give alms. The Lord Jesus reformed religious life which should take place with great humility and discretion; he invites us to be pious in our religious acts. Indeed, no religious act should be performed in such a way as to be noticed and praised by men; for the person who does it would lose his reward that our Father reserves for us in heaven.
Then, applying this principle, Jesus goes through the three main manifestations of piety: in alms, in particular, we should avoid all ostentation, ignore ourselves the good that we do, accomplish it with a view to God alone. This is why he states in Mat 6.1-4: “Beware of practicing your justice before men, to be seen; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound the trumpet before you, as hypocrites do in synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. I tell you truly, they receive their reward. 3 But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. “
Then we note that the order is given to us to act in secret in the matter of giving alms, while the Father Himself will give us, in the light of eternal judgment. Therefore, ostentatiously giving alms loses all its value, because what is done to be admired by men has no price in the eyes of God. The verses selected below will edify you on our theme.
I. Biblical rules regarding donations
-According to the revenues: Deut 16:17 “Everyone will give what he can, according to the blessings that the LORD your God has given him.” (Mat 5.42 “Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”)
-Moreover: Mat 10.8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received for free, give for free.” (Luke 6.38 “Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure will be poured into your bosom, tight, shaken, and overflowing, for they will measure you with the measure that you have used.” Luke 12:33 “Sell what you possess, and give it into alms, make for yourself purses that are not worn away, an inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where the thief does not come near, and where the moth does not destroy. “)
-with simplicity: Rom 12: 8 “and he who exhorts to exhortation. Let him who gives it do so liberally; let the presiding officer do it with zeal; let him who practices mercy do it with joy. “
-regularly, every week: 1 Corinthians 16.2 “May each one of you, on the first day of the week, set aside what he can, according to his prosperity, so that one does not wait for my arrival to collect the donations.”
-with joy: 2 Corinthians 9.7 “Let everyone give as he has resolved in his heart, without sadness or constraint; for God loves him who gives with joy.”
II. Exhortations and encouragement
Luke 12:33 “Sell what you have, and give it alms. Make you purses that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where the thief does not approach, and where the moth does not destroy.”
Luke 14: 12-14 “He also said to him who had invited him: When you give dinner or supper, do not invite your friends, your brothers, your parents, or rich neighbors, lest you they do not invite you in their turn, and we do not return the favor. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; 14 And you will be glad that they can not repay you; for it will be restored to you at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 16.9 “And I say to you, Make friends with unjust riches, that they may receive you in the eternal tabernacles, when they fail you.”
Luke 18.22 “And when Jesus heard this, he said to him, One thing is still lacking to you: sell all that you have, give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then, come, and follow me. “
Luke 19.8 “But Zacchaeus, standing before the Lord, saith unto him, Behold, Lord, I give the poor half of my possessions, and if I have wronged any man, I will restore him to fourfold.”
Psa 41.1 “To the choirmaster. Psalm of David. Happy one who is interested in the poor! In the day of trouble Jehovah delivers him.”
Psa 112.9 “He makes bounties, he gives to the needy; His justice remains forever; His head rises with glory,”
Pro 14.31 “To oppress the poor is to outrage whoever has done it; But to have pity on the needy is to honor him. “
Pro 19.17 “He who has mercy on the poor, give to the Lord, who will repay him according to his work.”
Mat 5.42 “Give to him who asks you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
Mat 6.1-4 “Beware of practicing your justice before men to be seen; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you give alms, do not sound the trumpet before you, as hypocrites do in synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. I tell you truly, they receive their reward. 3 But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
Mat 25: 34-40 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take possession of the kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you collected me; 36 I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. 37 The righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food? or thirsty, and did you give us something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger, and gather you up? or naked, and have you clothed us? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and did we go to you? 40 And the king shall answer them, Verily I say to you, Whenever you have done these things to one of these least of my brethren, you have done them to me. “
Mat 26:11 “For you always have poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
Acts 11.29 “And the disciples determined to send, every man according to his means, help to the brethren that dwelt in Judea.”
Acts 24.17 “After an absence of many years, I came to give alms to my nation, and to offer offerings.”
2 Corinthians 8: 9-9,12 “As you excel in all things, in faith, in word, in knowledge, in zeal in every respect, and in your love for us, make it also possible to excel in this work of charitable. 8 I do not say this to give an order, but to test, by the zeal of others, the sincerity of your charity. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who became poor for you, rich as he was, so that by his poverty you might be enriched. 12 Good will, when it exists, is pleasing because of what it can have at its disposal, and not what it does not have. “Eph 4.28 “Let no one who steals steal; but rather that he works, doing with his hands what is good, to have something to give to the one who is in need.” Heb 6.10 “For God is not unjust, to forget your work and the love you have shown for his name, having rendered and rendering services to the saints.”
Heb 13:16 “And do not forget beneficence and liberality, for it is to such sacrifices that God takes pleasure.” James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion, before God our Father, is to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to preserve oneself from the defilements of the world.”
James 2:14 – 16 “My brothers, what good is it for someone to say that he has faith, if he does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks food every day, 16 and one of you says to them: Go in peace, warm up and be satisfied! and that you do not give them what is necessary to the body, what is it for? “
1 John 3: 16-17 “We have known love, in that he gave his life for us; we too must give our lives for the brothers. 17 If any man possess the goods of the world, and see his brother in need, and shut his bowels to him, how is the love of God in him? Acts 10.15 “And for the second time the voice was heard again: What God hath declared pure, do not regard him as unclean.” Rom 14: 14-18 15 “But if, for a food, your brother is grieved, you no longer walk according to love: do not cause, by your food, the loss of the one for whom Christ died. 16 That your privilege is not a subject of slander. 17 For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy by the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved of men.” 1 Tim 4.4-5 “For all that God has created is good, and nothing must be rejected, provided it is taken with thanksgiving, 5 because everything is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.” Titus 1.15 “All things are pure to those who are pure; but nothing is pure for those who are defiled and unbelieving, their intelligence and their conscience are defiled. “
Pro 25.22 “For burning coals are on your head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Jer 17.10 “As for me, Jehovah, I feel the heart, I search the reins, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his works.” Mat 6.3 “But when you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Mat 6.18 “so as not to show men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Heb 4.13 “No creature is hidden in front of him, but everything is bare and uncovered in the eyes of the one to whom we are accountable.” Mat 6.6,18 “But when you pray, enter your room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 18 so that you do not show men that you are fasting, but your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Psa 17.3 “If you search my heart, if you visit it at night, If you test me, you will find nothing: My thought is none other than what comes out of my mouth.” Psa 44.21 “God will not know him, who knows the secrets of the heart?” Psa 139: 1-3,12 “To the choirmaster. From David. Psalm. Eternal! You know me when I sit down and when I get up, You penetrate my thoughts from far away. 3 You know when I walk and when I go to bed, and you enter all my ways. 12 Even the darkness is not dark to you, the night shines as the day, and the darkness as the light. “
Jer 23.24 “Will anyone stand in a hidden place without my seeing him? says the LORD. Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? saith the Lord.” Rev 2:23 “I will kill his children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and the hearts, and I will reward you according to your works. “
III. Rewards to those who help others
Mat 10.42 “And whoever gives only one glass of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” 1 Sam 2.30 “Therefore this is what the LORD God of Israel says: I have declared that your house and your father’s house shall go before me for ever. And now, saith the Lord, far from me! For I will honor him who honors me, but those who despise me will be despised.” Luke 8.17 For there is nothing hidden that is not to be discovered, nothing secret that should not be known and brought to light.” 1 Cor 4,5 “Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and who will manifest the purposes of hearts. Then everyone will receive from God the praise that will be due to him. “
Jude 24 “But to him who can protect you from every fall and make you appear before his unrepresentable glory and gladness.” Pro 20.6 “Many people proclaim their kindness; But a faithful man, who will find him?” Mat 6.5 “When you pray, do not be like hypocrites, who like to pray standing in synagogues and street corners to be seen by men. I tell you truly, they receive their reward.”
Mat 6.16 “When you fast, do not look sad, like the hypocrites, who make their faces defeated, to show men that they are fasting. I tell you truly, they receive their reward. “
Mat 23.5 “They do all their deeds to be seen by men. Thus, they wear large phylacteries, and they have long fringes to their clothes;” Luke 6.24 “But woe to you, rich, for you have your consolation!” 1 Cor 13.3 “And when I give all my goods for the food of the poor, when I give up my body to be burned, and if I do not have charity, it is of no use to me.” Job 31.16-20 “If I refused to the poor what they asked, If I made the widow’s eyes languish, 17 If I ate my bread alone, Without the orphan having had its share. 18 I who, from my youth, have lifted him up as a father, I who, from birth, have borne the widow; 19 If I have seen the unfortunate man go out of his clothes, the needy man have no cover, 20 And his loins have not blessed me, and he has not been warmed by the fleece of my lambs. “
Psa 37.21 “The wicked borrow, and he does not return; The righteous is compassionate, and he gives. “
Psa 112.9 “He makes bounties, he gives to the needy; His justice remains forever; His head rises with glory,
Luke 11.41 “Give alms what is in it, and behold, all things are pure unto you.”
John 13:29 “For some thought that, as Judas had the purse, Jesus would say to him,” Buy what we need for the feast, or command him to give something to the poor. “
Acts 10.2,4,31 “2 This man was pious and feared God with all his house; he gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God continually. 4 And he looked on him, and was terrified, and said, What is it, Lord? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your alms have gone up before God, and he has remembered them. 31 Corneille, your prayer has been answered, and God has remembered your alms. “
Rom 12:8 “and he who exhorts to exhortation. Let him who gives it do so liberally; let the presiding officer do it with zeal; let him who practices mercy do it with joy.” Gal 2.10 “They only told us to remember the poor, which I did well to do.”
1 Tim 6.18 “Ask them to do good, to be rich in good works, to have liberality, generosity,”
I have, indeed, experienced much joy and consolation concerning your charity; for through you, brother, the hearts of the saints have been tranquilized.”
1 Peter 4.11 “If anyone speaks, let it be as announcing the oracles of God; and if any man minister, and fill it according to the strength which God hath communicated, that in all things God may be glorified by Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen!”
From the foregoing, we hold that we should not give alms as we are exposed through the above verses, as well as those who remind us of the rules. Let us act not to be seen by humans, but for the glory of our Father who is in heaven, who will judge publicly when the time comes; giving rewards to those who keep His commandments. Therefore, judge nothing before the time, until the Lord Jesus Christ comes, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and who will manifest the purposes of hearts. Then everyone will receive from the Lord the praise that will be due to him. Our prayers accompany you in this direction, by the grace of God.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the next window of the temple of truth, namely prayer.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.