Charity: The Ordinance of Justice

CHARITY: THE ORDINANCE OF JUSTICE

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which God your father is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hands wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, and whatever he needs. Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying the seventh year, the year of release, is at hand, and your eye be evil against your poor brother and give him nothing, and he cry out to God against you, and it become sin among you. You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because fro this thing God your father will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand for the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, you shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15; 7-11).

“My son don’t prevent the poor from making a living, nor keep them waiting in their need. Never give a hungry person any cause for resentment or anger. Don’t add to the troubles of someone who is already desperate. If he is in need; don’t put off giving to him. Don’t refuse to help a beggar who is in distress. Don’t turn your back on a poor person or give him any reason to curse you. If he becomes so bitter that he does curse you, his Creator will hear his prayer. Listen to what the poor have to say and answer them politely (Sirach 4:1-6).

Blessings for Giving of Alms.

1. Prosperity: God promised to replenish the purse of any one that gives alms that he will prosper in all he does. King Solomon wrote: “There is one who scatters, yet increases more, and there is one who with holds more than the right but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Proverbs 11:24;25).

2. Deliverance from Death: Tobit said: “For charity delivers from death” and keeps you from entering the darkness. (Tobit 4:10) “For alms-giving delivers from death” (Tobit 12:9a).

3. Alms-giving Purges Away Sins: Angel Raphael who appeared to Tobit and his son Tobias in human form, when he accomplished the works assigned to him on the above persons said in his advise to them: “For alms-giving delivers from death, “and purges away every sin: Those who perform deeds of charity and righteousness will have fullness of life: but those who commit sin are the enemies of their lives” 9Tobit 12:9,10). King Solomon’s word agrees with that of Angel Raphael and Sirach about atonement, in that he said: “In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity (Proverb 16:6). “Water extinguishes a blazing fire so alms-giving atones for sin” (Sirach 3:10). Daniel said to King Belteshazzar: “Therefore O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: Break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity (Daniel 4:27).

4. Alms-giving Delivers in time of Troubles And Sickness: Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and thou will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness (Psalm 41:1-3).

5. Alms-giving, EFFECTIVE PRAYER: Alms-giving is one of the righteous acts that causes a man’s prayer to e heard by God. Prophet Isaiah wrote: “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and; and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? (brother). Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring for the speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of God shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and God will answer; you shall cry and he will say here I am (Isaiah 58:6-9).

Angel Raphael I his words to Tobit and Tobias said: Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, alms-giving and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold (Tobit 12:8).

Be A Son of God: Giving of Alms makes the giver a son of God, it is written in the Book of Sirach as follows: Be like a father to Orphans, and provide widows with helps their husbands can no longer give them. Then you will be like a Son of the Most High, and he will love you more than your own mother does” (Sirach 4:10)

If you go through the Bible you will see a lot of, and very many quotations concerning the poor and needy.

Let us pray: May the merciful God grant you the generous spirit with which to give alms according to the law of God, and receive all the blessings as you have read in this lesson and to inherit with the Saints or the righteous the Kingdom that God prepared for His chosen one’s from the foundation of the world in Jesus name. Amen.