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1 c) Alms.

I think many of us have heard of the poor sitting in the city streets calling “Alms for the poor. Alms for the poor.” They are of coarse begging for charity.

The King James version of the Bible uses the word Alms. I expect that the word ‘alms’ is an old English term that the people in the 16th Century would have understood. The NIV, which my Bible verses are from, does not mention alms.

I looked up Alms in the Strong’s Concordance, and it gives several meanings, such as ‘compassion’, ‘mercy’, ‘deeds’, and “pity”. In the NIV the words used instead of Alms are ‘Acts of Righteousness’ (Matt. 6:1), give to the needy (Mat. 6:2), give to the poor (Luke 12:33) ‘to beg’ (Acts 3: 2), money (Acts 3:3). So Alms is about giving and sharing with those in need.

An example of Alms that is promoted at our Church would be the Bottle Project for the Crisis Pregnancy Center… It is like a baby bottle that you fill with coins. Another example is the Coat Drive that we have done from time to time. Other areas of Alms could be any contributions to the local food bank, or helping any needy family or person. Providing for those who are in need, and who are distressed.

So, what is God’s position on Alms?

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.James 1:27

I want to point out, that if you are not financially able to pay your full tithes, that does not stop you from doing Alms. The verse says looking after widows and orphans. “Looking after” for some people may mean something other than money. It may mean the delivery of a casserole, or bread and milk. For others it may mean maintenance on a bicycle. Fill in the blank. There are a variety of ways that you can touch the lives of those in distress.

But this discussion is about money. I believe there is a biblical pattern as to the order of how we make our payments, and how we handle our finances.

There may be some who are not giving to God at all, because they are in financial distress. Perhaps you have never had control of your finances. Perhaps your financial situation has caused you anxiety. God wants to bless you and show you favour, but He will require you to change what you have been doing, and He may require a change in your attitude. Sometimes, you have to look beyond your own circumstances.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.Eph 4:28

It is God’s desire and Will for our lives that we be a people who share.

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.Proverbs 19:17

This is profound. Giving to the poor is like Lending to the Lord, and He will repay.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.Isaiah 58: 6-9a (speaking of Fasting, plus…)

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly, or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.2 Corinth 9:7

If you are not cheerful about giving to a particular need, then don’t give.

Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.

Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we… (do all these things)?

The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” When you fed the least of these, you did it unto me.Matt 25:34-40

God takes these things personally… When you don’t bring the tithe into the storehouse, you are robbing God. When you feed the poor, you are feeding Him.

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

People curse the one who hoards grain,
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.

Whoever seeks good finds favor,
but evil comes to one who searches for it.

Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.Proverbs 11:24-28

Finally…

I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread. They are always generous, and lend freely; their children will be blessed.Psalm 37:25,26

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