Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 19 March 2017 / No comments
The teachings of Jesus on alms-giving
Alms giving is the act of freely giving out a tangible or intangible
thing to another person, usually and needy person.
At the time of Jesus’ ministry, there were three types of
alms giving that were being paid by the people. The three types of alms were
collected by three different people. The first one was the collection of cash
offerings in the Synagogue on every Sabbath day. This was given out to the
poor. The second type was the collection of a combination of food and cash at
the market places. This was also given out to the needy. The third type was received
in the Court of Women, within the premises of the Temple. Thirteen offering
boxes were placed at vantage points in the court of women and people were
encouraged to give freely. This was also used in taking care of the needy.
Jesus preached against giving alms to people in an
ostentatious way just to impress people. At the time of Jesus, it was the
practice of some people to go about with trumpets sounding ahead of them as
they give alms to the needy. For such people, Jesus said they will have no
reward from God because by receive praise from people, that is in itself a
reward. Jesus taught that, when the Christians want to give alms, they should
do it in secret. They should not let even the right know what the left hand is
doing. This way, the father who sees in secret would reward them.
Jesus also taught that Christians should not refuse to give
to those who ask alms from them neither should they refuse to give a person who
comes to borrow from them.
Jesus suggested, in his teachings, that a Christian could
even sell his property and give the proceeds to the poor so that that person
can have treasure in heaven. This was in an answer to the young man who came to
Jesus to ask what he should do in order to enter the kingdom of God. According
to the account, when Jesus told the young man to obey the laws of Moses, he
said he had been observing all those laws. Jesus then told him to go and sell
all his property and give it out to the poor so that he can enter the kingdom
of God.
Jesus taught that when a person sells his property and gives the
proceeds out to the poor, he or she is providing for him or herself, a purse that
does not grow old. Also, such a person is building a treasure in heaven where
no moth can go and destroy it or no thief can go and still it.
In his teachings on alms giving, Jesus said people must not deliberately
give to others who are capable of giving back to them. He advised that when
they organize a dinner, they should not invite their neighbours, kinsmen,
family and friends; people who are very likely to invite them at some point. Rather
they should invite the lame, the blind and the afflicted, those who cannot, in
anyway, invite them back to their own dinner. He promised that they would
receive their pay on the day of resurrection.
Jesus also taught the people to give those things which are tangible
but things that are intangible, things that come from within the heart of man. Things
like compassion on another person, helping in other ways possible.
WAYS IN WHICH ONE CAN
GIVE TO THE POOR TODAY
1. One can give to the poor by donating to a worthy course in
the society, such as to an orphanage.
2. One can go to schools for the disable people and give out
for their upkeep.
3. One can also give directly to the afflicted persons when
one meets them in the streets or elsewhere.
SAMPLE QUESTION
1. a. Highlight Jesus’ teachings on alms giving
b. In which three
ways can a person give to the poor in your society today?
