Charity

Yes, of course, charity is important for us Christians. We can also speak of offerings. Remembering the poor is a recommendation that we can read about in the Bible.   (Galations 2:10; Isaiah 58: 10-12; Acts 11: 27-30)

Out of obligation or out of love?

The important thing to understand is how should I give? The Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13:3, gives us a marvellous example in a passage speaking of love. « If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. »

That’s some lesson, isn’t it?

It is not enough to just give, but it is necessary to ask how to give. Too many people give in order to look good, or to ease their conscience, whereas Jesus challenges us in the Gospel of Matthew 6:2-4, saying  “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. »

An important detail to acknowledge is that we cannot buy our way into Heaven.

Question :What are my real motives when I give to the poor?