Where you spend your time and money will determine where you spend your eternity. God has entrusted us with money and time, so that we can be good stewards. A steward, in the end, is accountable to his master. We are accountable to God on how we utilise His entrusted wealth and time. The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it (Psalm 24:1 NRSV).

God has placed us in this world to do justice, which is living in right relationship with God, right relationship with others and right relationship with God’s creation. He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mi 6:8). One of the ways in which we can do justice is by providing for the needs of the poor.

Almsgiving is a Christian practice encouraged for pious living by acts of care and service to others in need. My child do not cheat the poor of their living, and do not keep needy eyes waiting. Do not grieve the hungry, or anger one in need. Do not add to the troubles of the desperate, or delay giving to the needy.  Do not reject a suppliant in distress or turn your face away from the poor (Sirach 4:1-4).

Almsgiving is a pleasing sacrifice to God. Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased (Heb 13:16). God desires us to show mercy to others and one of the ways we can show mercy towards the poor is through almsgiving. Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor (Prov 22:9).

Almsgiving makes atonement for many sins. May my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged (Dn 4:27).

Almsgiving is better than praying and fasting. Prayer with fasting is good, but better than both is almsgiving with righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than wealth with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to lay up gold. For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies (Tob 12: 8-10).

Not providing almsgiving and taking care of the needy has serious consequences as highlighted by Jesus in the passage below.

The Judgment of the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Mt 25: 31 -46)

Almsgiving is not an option, it is a necessity, precisely as justice is not an option, but a necessity. If you fail to give alms and care for those in need, you will be held accountable on the day of judgement. Failing to do justice is injustice. You can do justice by feeding the hungry, providing for and caring for the needs of the poor.

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