Day 21 Almsgiving (Giving to the Poor)

Day 21

Almsgiving (Giving to the Poor)

“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. 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. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

(Matthew 6:1-4)

Giving to the Poor is the 13^th pillar

Almsgiving is the 13^th pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

Beloved, giving to the poor is a wonderful thing, for almsgiving is both a privilege and a requirement.  However, the Lord Jesus warns us that it must be done to please God, not men!  For in truth I tell you, one of the greatest diseases we inherited from sin is the fleshly desire to be praised by men, to be glorified by men, to be seen as good by men, and all this leads to the desire of being worshiped, which then takes the place of God.  We quickly stop being a worshiper and start desiring to be worshiped!  And this is the devil’s greatest sin, the sin that cost him heaven.  For it violates the 1^st Commandment:

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”  (Exodus 20:3)

Giving to the poor is an act of human kindness.  God expects us to bear fruit, and kindness is a fruit of the Spirit.  God commands us to do so:

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother.”  (Deuteronomy 15:7)

For:

“Blessed is he who considers the poor;
         The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
  The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
         And he will be blessed on the earth;
         You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies”

 (Psalm 41:1-2)

And:

“Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.”  (Proverbs 21:13)

Therefore, let us do good and give to the poor, only let us do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, that we may please God our Father. Let us not do good to please men, for selfish ambitions, to gain favor from men and to be called good among men, or to get a promotion in the church and in the community.  Let us put aside all selfish ambitions, and do it all to please God, not men, for God searches the heart. Let us serve God with a loyal heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.  

If you give to the poor to please Him, He will be found by you; however, if you give to the poor to please men, He will cast you off, as He did to Ananias and Sapphira who did a good thing but with an evil and selfish intent: to gain praise from men and to be called good.  They acted out of envy, because Joses, had done a good deed which was well pleasing to God, and the Apostles named Barnabas (the Son of Encouragement), and all brethren were talking well of Barnabas.  Ananias and Sapphira coveted the praise that was rightfully given to Barnabas because he did good to please God, but Ananias and Sapphira wanted to please men:

“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’  Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’  She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’   Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’  Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.”   (Acts 4:36-37; Acts 5:1-11)

Let us, therefore, have fear and do the will of God from the heart, laying aside all malice and evil intent, serving God with fear and trembling, that our good deeds may be acceptable in the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  Let us, therefore, do all things with our hearts set to bring glory to God our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us therefore shake off this casual attitude which is so prevalent in this current generation toward God. We are so casual in regard to God in this generation that we have lost the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom.  No wonder why this generation is full of knowledge but no wisdom.  For everything in this generation, there is a “how to”: how to do this and how to do that.  What about us fearing God, repenting and turning to God with all our hearts, minds and souls, and standing still and seeing the salvation of the LORD?  Again I say, let us fear God:

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”  (Revelation 14:6-7)                                                                                                                

Finally my dear beloved, it is time to:

“Awake, you who sleep,
      Arise from the dead,
      And Christ will give you light.”

  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5: 14-17)

It is high time for us to go back to the basics of our faith; Christianity is all about loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls, and all our strength, and then loving others as we love ourselves.  Even as those who came before us, let us be of one heart and one soul to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”  (Acts 4:32)

Let us, therefore, love God by loving others.  Let us, therefore, do good, as to the LORD, and not to men.  Let our good deeds be seasoned with love, for without love, all that we do is in vain:

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”  (1 Corinthians 13:3)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  Though I give all my goods to feed the poor, but have not love in my heart, this profits me nothing.

 Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to do all things according to Your will, and please fill my heart with Your love, that everything I do, I will do with love and in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord.  I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself to do all things to please God, not men or myself. And from today, everything I do, I will do with love through Christ who strengthens me.   Amen!