Give to the Poor
Matthew 6:3-4 "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
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| The Poor |
Jesus in the opening Scripture reveals to us the importance of giving to the poor as a Kingdom lifestyle. Note that the Lord Jesus said "when thou doest alms", He did not say, "if thou doest alms". It is not an 'if thing, it is a 'when' thing. It is scriptural to give alms. The Scripture says that he who gives to the poor, lends unto the Lord, and the same the Lord will pay him back (Proverbs 19:17). When God pays back, it is always in good measure, pressed down, shaken together,and running over. Giving of alms is a Kingdom lifestyle of service, worship, and devotion to God.We are taught and instructed by the Word to practise the art of givingto the poor.We are to inculcate and imbibe this noble life of worship and devotion to God. We are doers of the Word,and not hearers only (James 1:22). Giving to the poor ought to be on your monthly budget.You are not supposed to spend all of our income just on yourself or family.
Throughout Scriptures, we see God always defending the cause of the poor. God always identifies with the poor. He is the Father of the poor. When you remember the poor,He blesses you for it. There is a special blessing from the Lord to everyone who remembers the poor. God is mindful of the poor and all those who are mindful of them. In the Kingdom, giving of alms is done in secret. As a believer, you don't boast about giving to the poor. You give in compassion towards the person in need and in faith towards God, the Commander of the blessing, the Father of the fatherless. There is ablessing or reward in giving to the poor. In Acts 10, the Bible speaks of Cornelius, a Centurion in the Italian regimen who gave alms to the poor steadfasly.The Bible records that though a Gentile, estranged from the covenant of Israel, his alms went up before God as a memorial and He looked down upon him and sent an angel to show him the way of salvation.God rewards openly whatever you do in secret. When you give to the poor, do it as one who is extending God's mercy and grace that you hav received. No air of pride and fleshly show-off must go with it. Freely you have received, freely give. Hallelujah!!!
I declare that I give to the poor as a lifestyle, from the abundance with which the Lord has blessed me, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. My spirit is liberal; I give to the poor and the needy.The wisdom of God is at work in me and so I spread my seeds abroad to bless the poor.
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