What is alms and how to serve it? It would seem that here is complicated? It turns out that not everyone can always be helped, even if asked. Alms are a science. Before you study it, you should study and understand the language of theology well.
What is alms? The Parable of Alms
There are many parables where it is said that the rich should serve the poor. And then he will be rewarded with compassion for his mercy, and to the one who asks - for patience.
According to religion, alms are alms to the poor. Sharing with one's neighbor is one of the main life tenets of a true Christian. But here it is necessary to correctly interpret the concept of "give alms." Who really needs help, and who needs to be circumvented and thereby save both their soul and those who ask?
The Parable of the Wandering Jews
One of the biblical parables is also devoted to this question. Jews wandering the desert twice sacrificed gold. In the first case, they collected all the jewelry of their women and cast a calf from them. This gift they presented to the devil. For the second time, all Jewish husbands collected all the gold and silver coins. They presented them as a gift to the Lord God.
What is this talking about? That when a person spends what he has earned on all his whims, such as festivities, clothes, expensive jewelry, he presents all this to his demon. That is, thereby nourishes it. And if he attributes the acquired property and money to the poor or buys food and clothing for them, then a person saves his soul. After all, he makes an presentation to the bright side of his inner being.
Does a person really need?
But in our world it is sometimes very difficult to determine who is truly in need and who is cheating by asking for money for their greedy needs. Donations cannot be made to anyone who asks, and most importantly, how much he asks. One must be able to distinguish between truly needy and typical speculators making money. This is also stated in the Bible. That is, everyone should give, depending on their wealth. One who is richer, respectively, more. The poor can give his strength. And they will be counted equally. After all, they give back equally in their capabilities.
Good deeds need to be done correctly.
So how do you still have to give alms? Remember, do everything with a pure heart and with good intentions. If you see that a person needs more than you, give, do not spare. Go around the scammers and try to warn the other submitters about the unclean intentions of the asker. The look should be friendly and bright. In no case should not be given with regret or unwillingness. Like, you need to file, but do not want to. Or, as many do, especially the rich: throwing alms to the poor with a favor. All this will return to you with the same pain that the person asking you at that moment was experiencing.
After all, the Bible says that you are giving not just to the poor in need, but to your God. Thus, thank him for all good deeds and urgent trials. Here the proverb "How you sow, so you reap." That is, the more you sacrifice with a pure heart, the more you will then return to the affairs of the Lord.
"When the right hand is giving, the left should not know about it." What does it mean? When you make donations, no one should know about it. And you yourself should not consider how much you have given, but how much more is left. If you have done such a thing, then forget it. The more you give, the more you will gain.
Serve on time
Remember that alms, like everything else in this life, must be timely. Serve when it is not too late. So far the poor man has not stepped on the dark road. Indeed, in order to feed themselves and their children, many can commit a crime. They can steal, deceive, force others to give them their property and, worst of all, commit murder. Remember that food should be given when a person is hungry, and not when he died, without having seen food. Help orphans or those who stumble so that you do not have to answer before the Lord either. They could help, but they passed by, a man laid hands on himself, taking a big sin on his soul. But you could have done something and did not want to, which means that you must also bear the answer before the Almighty.
Alms can be different!
After all, charity is a good human attitude towards the needy.
When the Bible speaks of alms, it is not only material that is meant. It speaks of good deeds and bright intentions. To give alms is equivalent to that material alms. Not everyone has finances or food to share. But everyone has a good word and time to help. Many just need human support. After all, it will cost you absolutely nothing, and you can save someone’s life.
You see, a woman is crying on the street - do not pass by. Suddenly she was robbed, and she needs help. Or maybe her house is in trouble, but there is nobody to share with her, and she is crying. It is possible that just a person became ill, but there is no need to ask for help. After all, you and your loved ones may find themselves in such a situation, and it’s good, after all, when strangers do not pass indifferently by.
Or look around, maybe you have an old neighbor, whom children don’t go to, or she’s completely lonely, and you need help. Go to the store, apply water, chop wood, clean the house or just talk over a cup of tea. For many lonely old people, your half hour of time will not only be lifted, but they will be brought back to life. And you need to do this every day, and not when you feel bad yourself and remember others.
After all, most of us go to the temple when someone close starts to get sick or is unwell. Then we put candles in the church and give them out to the poor. Is this right? Of course not. Every day someone needs help, and not only when we think about it, and then only in order to save ourselves. It’s better to do things when you’re healthy and share it with others.
It happens that rich people are so stingy that even their children do not help and do not share their wealth. And when they are already on their deathbed, they remember about them. Then they begin to share who gets what. But can such a person be sure that the children will fulfill his last will? He didn’t honor them during his lifetime, and they can repay him the same. If the Lord blesses the rich man through his wealth, then he must be shared in life.
Alms in the church
Many people ask: how to give alms in the church? Now you can stumble on dishonest priests. All of them, as one, argue that if alms are served in the church, then they will be doubled for it. But where is it written and said in the Bible that good deeds in the temple are doubled? All this is similar to the marketing scheme of those church fathers who want to put everything in their pocket. Here, too, everyone should distinguish between where to leave a donation and which temple is better to go around.
Unfortunately, in some modern cathedrals and churches the priests don’t even know the prayers of all, and they don’t just don’t know, and they even didn’t even read the Bible. But you can not categorically treat everyone. Most of them still truly serve the Lord. Also, many poor churches need alms or just physical strength. After all, not that church is good that with huge domes and inside everything is full of wealth and gold. And the one where the priest will help and forgive sins with a bright and pure soul. The church is considered to be the house of the Lord, where people gather and talk with him. Someone asks for health, someone asks for peace of mind.
A good priest thanks for what he already has. Many people come to the temple to honor the memory of loved ones and relatives. Or just bring a donation. But the Scripture does not say that the house of the Lord should be in gold and wealth greater than the parishioners who bring alms to his doors.
Conclusion
Summing up the above, we can say that alms are a good gift from the giver to the needy. Therefore, help people from the bottom of their hearts!
It doesn't matter where the alms are served: is it a church or just a busy street. The main thing is to help the needy if not with money, then at least with a kind word.