Matthew 6 vs 2

When you give to the poor, don't announce that you are giving. Don't do like hypocrites do. They blow trumpets before they give so that people can see them. They do that in the synagogues and on the streets so that people can see them. I tell you the truth. Those hypocrites already have their full reward.

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Most of the time, I do wonder if people still take this habit of giving to the poor or anyone in need very serious, because looking at the situation around us, number of people prefer to be self-centred than distributing their wealths to the needy especially in my country and possibly, any other parts of the world. Some would even find one or two excuses to justify themselves about why they are not deeply into almsgiving; and if some are to do it, they do it publicly. The bible says those people already have their full reward.

It is quite unfortunate, that some claim to be Christians and yet they don't practice the habit of giving alms whatsoever. These are the set of people I want to remind that; alongside with prayer and fasting, almsgiving is never left out. In fact, almsgiving is even better than these two things, why? Because, it incorporates the two.

Enough said! Let's look at what the bible says about almsgiving;

• What does almsgiving entail?

• How do we give?

• Is it necessary to give?

• What are the benefits?

• Meaning of Almsgiving

Alms are the money or goods given to the needy as an act of charity. It comes from a greek word which means pity or mercy. So, when we practice the habits of giving alms, we are actually dispensing mercy.
Therefore Almsgiving can be said to be a kind of act which involves the dispensation of mercy to those in dire need of it. Not necessarily only those in dire need of it though. Dispensation of mercy could be to anyone , no matter how big, small, tall or short the person is.
Remember this;

In fact almsgiving is better than these two things, that is fasting and prayer, why? Because, it incorporates the two.

• Almsgiving is a form of prayer, because it involves Giving to God and not a mere philanthropy.

• Almsgiving is a form of fasting, because it requires Sacrificial giving and not a mere giving.

• Almsgiving also involve giving out of coins, but not about how many coins we give away, rather it is about how generously our hearts are capable of doing it.

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• How do we give to the needy?

In the verse one of the bible chapter at the entry, Jesus says;

Be careful! When you do good things, don't do those things in front of people. Don't do those things for people to see you. If you do that, then you will have no reward from your father in heaven.

• This bible verse is telling us nothing, but the right way of doing things. You don't say because you wanna give to people, it has to be public. Instead of doing it publicly, why not secretly? And see the blessings that follow. When you give publicly, the reward you get is all about people praising you, and not God. The reward from God is far better than reward from a fellow human being. So, giving secretly is the best way to give.
  Matthew 6 vs 3;

But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

• The point of almsgiving is to give from the abundance of our hearts. Rather than seeing poverty and hunger as societal ills, our blessing is offered as Jesus is served in the least of this.*

• If we are to give to people, we shouldn't give based on conditions. Probably, telling them to complete some tasks before getting what they need.

In short, almsgiving should be from the abundance of our heart, and also not conditional.

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• Is it really necessary to give?

Yes, it is necessary we give as Christians.
Jesus draws our attention to those marginalized by poverty and in it, he gave us a glorious opportunity to encounter His preaches, when acts of mercy, kindness and justice are to be embraced and enacted.

Jesus is encouraging us to reach out to the poor, needy and the less privilege. If Jesus could be the one encouraging us to practice the act of giving, why then do we have to run away from it?
As a matter of fact, almsgiving is the responsibility of every Christian...

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• Benefits of giving(secretly)

Our secret giving nurtures humility and protects us from pride and pleasures that often accompany public giving.

• When we give, blessing from God is assured; As he blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them.
  He even made it known in that if you are asked for something, prolly the needy, you shouldn't hesitate to give such person.
  If He could say all this, that means there is something in reservation for anybody who does it. And for this, I say; it can never be something lesser, but tangible!

• Proverb 28 vs 27

If a person gives to the poor people, then he will have everything he needs. But if a person refuses to help poor people, then he will have much trouble.

So, why wouldn't you wanna give?Practice the act of giving as from today if you haven't been doing that. Too those already doing it, keep it up and you will never lack...

Acheever

Thanks for reading