What Does the Bible Say About Charity?

Billy Graham observes wisely that God has given us two hands, one to receive and one to give. Giving and sharing are two fundamental aspects of any society. Any culture or society which doesn’t have these fundamental values incorporated into it at an individual or family level suffers from a lack of empathy. We must identify those members of society who suffer from the curse of poverty.

Identification isn’t the only moral obligation that binds the richer class of the society, the well-off section of the society must join hands to alleviate the sufferings of the underprivileged members of society. Holy books of different religions teach us the same lesson and in this discussion, we are going to have a look at some of the bible quotes about charity. The content of this discussion is quite motivational!

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Charity and Christianity

The charity has a distinctive place in Christianity. There is no higher form or manifestation of love other than the beautiful concept of charity. The concept has been discussed by many eminent Christian scholars and philosophers and has been interpreted in many ways. The gist of all this, however, is that charity is the noblest deed, the root from which other good deeds and actions stem. The bible quotes about the charity that we will discuss now reflect the importance of charity in Christianity, openly and honestly. For more details apply for Grace Christian University program and study Bible online.

Generosity is a gift

We all have a gift. It may sound absurd to some, but it is much closer to reality than some of the other stuff we scroll through every day. Figuring it out, the gift that you have can take some time. But for some people, these matters aren’t complicated at all. Do you know why? Because their gift is giving! Bible also describes generosity as a gift. The following verse from the Bible makes matters absolutely crystal clear.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (NIV, Romans 12:6-8)

This means that those of us who are blessed with the gift of charity must not refrain from using it often. Men and women who have hearts big enough to contribute selflessly must do all in their power to alleviate the misery of hurting souls.

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Giving is a duty

This is an aspect of giving and sharing, which can make many of us donate much more than what we normally donate. Taking charity casually isn’t a sin exactly, however, one must not take these matters lightly. It is our responsibility to take care of those, who belong to the tribe of underprivileged in society. Bible describes charity as a duty. Don’t believe it? Read it for yourself, in the verse quoted below:

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God. (NRSV, Leviticus 19:9-10)

The message is loud and clear: it is our duty to be conscious of the needs of the other individuals. The above-mentioned bible quote about charity gives this message in no uncertain terms.

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Sharing is caring

Our world could do with a bit of empathy and sympathy, don’t you agree? We, as a race, suffer from a tremendous amount of doom and gloom every day. From financial plight to emotional heartbreaks, we must come together and join hands to show that we all care about each other. And what is the best way of showing that? Sharing, of course. Even the Bible agrees, as quoted below:

And the crowds asked [John the Baptist], “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” (NRSV, Luke 3:10-11)

Simple yet effective. We all have been taught that sharing is caring. The very concept is reflected in the above-mentioned verse from Luke.This concept promotes the culture of empathy and sympathy in society.

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Donate without drumming about it!

Respecting the feelings of the recipients of charity is as important as giving the actual donation. The following verses make it crystal clear that respecting the self-esteem of the recipient of zakat money is an act necessary, a protocol that must be observed:

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “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 honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

(NIV, Matthew 6:1-2)

Not only Christianity but all religions of the world emphasize keeping the integrity and self-esteem of the recipient intact. Donating or helping someone doesn’t give you a right to publically announce your noble deed, otherwise, you have done no good at all. You can find more about charity here.

Conclusion

Of course, these aren’t the only Bible verses about charity. But if these bible quotes about charity fail to move anyone, we doubt if anything else will work. Our once beautiful world now suffers from endless sorrow and misery. In these troubled times, one must do as much as they can in their capacity to heal the wounds of those who suffer daily. Consider donating at one of the top non-profits for creating awareness and motivating people to help raise funds for the surgeries and medical procedures of the underprivileged “Transparent Hands US Inc.” We hope that these bible quotes about charity will instill a spirit in you that will keep you motivated for a long time!