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This right here is very important. One we must pay attention to. We are commanded to remember the poor. And the fulfillment of that commandment is a work of righteousness. Christ also commands us to love one another, He calls it 'a new commandment I give unto you'... and to remember the poor and the less privilege is to love our neighbor as ourselves. He also said in scripture, how can you say you love God whom you have not seen if you do not love the neighbor you can see. Some of us have summed up this duty to offerings and tithes- the collection box. But it is beyond that. It is about being an extension of God's hand to the hungry, the naked, the imprisoned, the homeless. It is about taking immediate action using what you have been given, from within your means, rather than praying for them and saying, come back another time. It is about compassion, genuine humanity that springs from a heart of gratitude that says, 'if I have this little, then I can most certainly give this much...' When we remember the poor and become God's means of provision to them, we fulfill the greatest commandment. If we are blind to the need of a brother or sister it is a great disservice to God and to humanity. It is nothing but unrighteous living.
They do not entitle us to heaven, but you cannot go to heaven without them
True religion that springs from the deepest wells of the heart cannot ignore the pain of the suffering, the sick, the broken, the homeless, the needy... To do that would be callous, and yet how many times have we fallen victims of this righteousness. If you want to measure how content and grateful you are to God, check your giving. When we do not give we are indirectly saying, 'I do not have enough..' We are also saying in essence, 'I want more! Why part with this now?' And whenever we give to the poor, or to a brother or sister in need, another thing to note is the motive with which we give. Is it because we want God to give us in return? Or is it because we are moved by compassion. Is it because we want others to take note and see how generous we are? Do we do it discreetly and quietly or do parade ourselves in public? What is the state of the heart that does this giving? We must remember that to love, to give, to share, wether in kind or in deed, is indeed a great duty as christians and has great reward. But it would be worthless to do it in hypocrisy for then we lose the reward that comes from above. Matthew 6
1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Some people may and have abused the act of giving by openly parading themselves so that men will call them righteous but that does not excuse the greedy christian who has decided to not share his food with the hungry. Let's glean some insight from Matthew Henry... (take your time to read the scriptures he referenced).
The giving of alms is a great duty, and a duty which all the disciples of Christ, according to their ability, must abound in. It is prescribed by the law of nature and of Moses, and great stress is laid upon it by the prophets.
For alms are righteousness, Ps. 112:9 ; Prov. 10:2. The Jews called the poor’s box the box of righteousness. That which is given to the poor is said to be their due, Prov. 3:27 . The duty is not the less necessary and excellent for its being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. If superstitious papists have placed a merit in works of charity, that will not be an excuse for covetous protestants that are barren in such good works. It is true, our alms-deeds do not entitle us to heaven; but it is just as true that we cannot go to heaven without them. It is pure religion (Jam. 1:27 ), and will be the test at the great day; Christ here takes it for granted that his disciples give alms, nor will he own those that do not.II. That it is such a duty as has a great reward attending it, which is lost if it be done in hypocrisy. It is sometimes rewarded in temporal things with plenty (Prov. 11:24, Prov. 11:25 Prov. 19:17 ); security from want (Prov. 28:27 ; Ps. 37:21, Ps. 37:25 ); succour in distress (Ps. 41:1, Ps. 41:2 ); honour and a good name, which follow those most that least covet them, Ps. 112:9 . However, it shall be recompensed in the resurrection of the just (Lu. 14:14 ), in eternal riches. Quas dederis, solas semper habebis, opes. The riches you impart form the only wealth you will always retain. —Martial.
Lessons When you give, even in this life we have a reward but that should not be the motive to give. Rather take comfort in God's promise of an eternal reward for he that gives to the poor lends to God. Allow God to reward your good works as He has purposed. Don't think you can manipulate God by giving. God is not mocked. Blessed are those who do not consider the weight or measure of their giving, nor covet a recompense because they give, for they shall not lose their reward. Selah.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done.
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