Almsgiving

 

[Jesus said] “Fear not, little flock, for tit is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:32-34 ESV).

 

“Almsgiving” … there’s a word we don’t hear very much anymore. Perhaps we should, though I know we have come to use other words in its place. A simple definition for “Almsgiving” is the act of giving charity to another. Almsgiving has been around for thousands of years and is referred to as charity, philanthropy, or giving to the poor. Giving (alms) is the primary means by which many Christians and other faith traditions express faith. Almsgiving is one of the three tenets of Lent.

 

Jesus’ words in our reading today are probably among his most assuring as well as his most challenging. After a warning about selfishness, Jesus told his disciples not to worry about food and clothing. But we know we can’t just sit back and watch food and clothing drop like manna from heaven. Even birds don’t have food delivered to them. They work hard to gather their food.

 

Jesus also reminds us that by worrying we will not add “a single hour” to our lives. He teaches us about trust and faith. Lent is a great time to reconsider how we order our charity in the plan of personal ministry. In doing so, we need to trust that God will provide as we work, and we need to have a faith that expresses itself in concern for his kingdom’s causes.

 

When we accept Christ’s invitation to follow him, we commit ourselves to making his kingdom the priority in our lives. God knows our needs, and he will provide. Knowing that, we need to make sure that our primary concern is to glorify him and love others as ourselves—and certainly not to pursue our selfish wants.

 

Our heart commitment always reveals itself in the priorities we pick. Doing so, we’ll grow in grace and show others the way of the kingdom.