God's Banking System by Buddy Harrison

Author:Buddy Harrison
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-24T19:29:55+00:00

5

ALMS = GIVING TO THE POOR = LOANS

The third way to invest money in your heavenly bank account is by giving alms, or giving to the poor. Giving offerings and giving alms are two distinct types of giving, but they both affect your future.

As we have learned, there are certain rules for paying tithes and giving offerings. The same is true with alms.

You must have the right attitude when giving to the poor. You can’t be haughty or have a superior attitude. Neither can you be condescending: Here's a little crumb for you. To act in either manner would undo the purpose of your giving and nullify your return. Be careful not to get caught up in pride.

The Lord never belittled poor people. On the contrary, He provided for them in the Law, and He would rebuke the Jewish society when it neglected the poor. (Isa. 3:14,15.) In fact, Judaism and Christianity are the only major religions that care for the poor and do something to change their circumstances.

You will find numerous instructions in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy concerning the treatment of the poor, widows, orphans, and strangers. A number of Scriptures in Proverbs deal with attitudes concerning the poor.

The Lord is very clear about not being hardhearted or cynical concerning the poor. Neither are we to take advantage of them.

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee.

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

This doesn’t mean that we give indiscriminately, for con artists—people who play upon your emotions and make you think they’re poor so you’ll give to them—exist.

Notice that the Scripture says "brethren." That’s talking about people you know, people in your church, and family members. It doesn’t mean you should not give to the beggar or homeless person on the street. There are Scriptures that address giving to strangers. You give when and where God tells you to give. You just need to be led by the Spirit in your giving.

We should lend to our brother that which he has need of.

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