What is almsgiving and how should it be given? It would seem, what is so difficult? It turns out that not everyone and not always can be helped, even if asked. Giving is a whole science. Before learning it, one should study and understand the language of theology well.
Almsgiving - what is it? Parable of Alms
There are many parables that say that the rich should give to the poor. And then the compassionate one will be rewarded for his mercy, and the one who asks - for his patience.
According to religion, charity is giving to the poor. Sharing with your neighbor is one of the main life postulates of a true Christian. But here it is necessary to correctly interpret the concept of "give alms." Who really needs to be helped, and who needs to be bypassed and thereby save both your soul and the one who asks?
The Parable of the Wandering Jews
One of the biblical parables is also dedicated to this issue. The Jews, wandering in the desert, made a sacrifice of gold twice. In the first case, they collected all the ornaments of their women and cast them into a calf. This gift they gave to the devil. The second time all the Jewish husbands collected all the gold and silver coins. They presented them as a gift to the Lord God.
What is it aboutHe speaks? That when a person spends what he earns on all his whims, such as festivities, clothes, expensive jewelry, then he presents all this to his demon. That is, thereby nourishes it. And if he takes the acquired property and money to the poor or buys food and clothes for them, then the person saves his soul. After all, he is making an offering to the light side of his inner being.
Does a person really need?
But in our world it is sometimes very difficult to determine who is truly in need and who is cheating, begging for money for their greedy needs. Donations should not be given to everyone who asks, and most importantly, how much he asks. One must be able to distinguish between truly needy and typical speculators who earn money. This is also mentioned in the Bible. That is, everyone should give depending on their we alth. The one who is richer, respectively, more. The poor man can give according to his strength. And they will be treated equally. After all, they give equally according to their capabilities.
Do good deeds right
So how do you give alms? Remember, do everything with a pure heart and with good intentions. If you see that a person needs more than you, give, don't be sorry. Avoid scammers and try to warn other applicants about the impure intentions of the applicant. The look should be friendly and bright. In no case should you give with regret or unwillingness. Like, you have to file, but you don’t want to. Or, as many do, especially the rich: they throw alms to the poor as a favor. All this will return to you with the same pain,that the person asking you was experiencing at that moment.
After all, the Bible says that you give not just to the poor in need, but to your God. Thus, thank him for all the good deeds and pressing trials. Here the proverb "as you sow, so you reap" works perfectly. That is, the more you donate with a pure heart, the more will be returned to you later in the works of the Lord.
"When the right hand serves, the left must not know about it." What does it mean? When you donate, no one should know about it. And you yourself should not count how much you have given away, and how much good is left. If you've done something like this, forget it. The more you give, the more you will receive.
Serve on time
Remember that charity, like everything in this life, must be timely. Serve when it's not too late. So far, the poor man has not taken the dark road. After all, many in order to feed themselves and their children, can go to crime. They can steal, deceive, force others to give them their property and, worst of all, commit murder. Remember that food should be given when a person is hungry, and not when he died without seeing food. Help the orphans or those who stumble, so that you will not have to answer to the Lord later. They could help, but they passed by, the man laid hands on himself, taking a big sin on his soul. And you could have done something and didn’t want to, which means that you will have to answer to the Almighty later.
Alms can bedifferent
After all, charity is a kind human attitude towards the needy.
When the Bible talks about alms, it doesn't just mean material things. It speaks of good deeds and bright intentions. To give alms is tantamount to that material alms. Not everyone has finances or food to share. But everyone has a kind word and time to help. Many people just need human support. After all, it will cost you absolutely nothing, and you can save someone's life.
See, a woman is crying in the street - do not pass by. Suddenly she was robbed, and she needs help. Or maybe she has a problem at home, and she has no one to share with, and she cries. It is possible that the person simply became ill, but there is no strength to ask for help. After all, you or your loved ones may find themselves in such a situation, and it’s good when strangers don’t pass by indifferently.
Or look around, maybe you have an old neighbor, to whom children do not go, or she is completely alone, and she needs help. Go to the store, apply water, chop firewood, tidy up the house or just talk over a cup of tea. For many lonely old people, your half hour will not only cheer you up, but also bring them back to life. And you need to do this every day, and not when you yourself feel bad and think about others.
After all, most of us go to church when one of our loved ones starts to get sick or is unwell himself. That's when we put candles in the church, and distribute to the poor. And is it right? Of course not. Every day someone needs help, not just when welet us remember this, and then only in order to save ourselves. It is better to do things when you are he althy and share them with others.
It also happens that the rich are so stingy that even their children do not help and do not share their we alth. And when they are already on their deathbed, they remember them. Then they begin to divide who gets what. Can such a person be sure that the children will fulfill his last will? After all, he did not honor them during his lifetime, and they can repay him the same. If the Lord blesses the rich man through his we alth, then it is necessary to share it during life.
Giving in church
Many people ask the question: what is the right way to give alms in the church? Now you can stumble upon dishonest priests. All of them unanimously assert that if alms are given in the church, then it will be doubly rewarded. But where is it written and said in the Bible that good deeds in the temple are doubled? All this is similar to the marketing scheme of those church fathers who want to put everything in their pocket. Here, too, everyone should distinguish where to leave a donation, and which temple is better to bypass.
Unfortunately, in some modern cathedrals and churches they don’t even know the priests of everyone’s prayers, and not only don’t they know, but they haven’t even read the Bible. But you can not be categorical to everyone. Most of them still truly serve the Lord. Also, many poor churches need alms or just physical strength. After all, not that church is good, that with huge domes andinside, everything is full of we alth and gold. And the one where the priest will help and forgive sins with a bright and pure soul. The church is considered to be the house of the Lord, where people gather and talk with him. Someone asks for he alth, someone for peace of mind.
A good priest gives thanks for what he already has. Many come to the temple to honor the memory of loved ones and relatives. Or just donate. But Scripture does not say that the house of the Lord should be richer in gold and richer than the parishioners who bring alms to its doors.
Conclusion
Summing up the above, we can say that almsgiving is a good gift from the giver to the needy. So help people from the bottom of your heart!
It doesn't matter where the alms are served: a church or just a busy street. The main thing is to help the needy, if not with money, then at least with a kind word.
