If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“The are are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. The way of life is this. First of all, you shall love the God who made you. Second, love your neighbor as yourself. And all things you would not want done to you, do not do to another person.
Now the teaching of these words is this. Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what credit is it to you, if you love those who love you? Do the people of the nations not do the same? But you should love those who hate you, and you will not have an enemy. Abstain from the desires of the flesh and of the body.
If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him also, and you will be perfect. If anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him for two miles. If anyone takes away your coat, give him your shirt also. If anyone takes away what is yours, do not demand its return, for you cannot.
To anyone who asks something of you, give it to him, and do not ask for it back, for the Father desires that gifts be given to all from His own riches. Blessed is he who gives charitably according to the commandment, for he is blameless. Woe to him who receives. If a needy man receives charity, he is blameless, but anyone is not in need will be called to account for why he accepted it.
And being imprisoned, he will be interrogated concerning his actions, and he will not be released until he has repaid every last penny. Indeed, it has also been said: “Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you have discerned to whom you will give.”
Didache (c. 50-120) or The Teachings of the 12 Apostles to the Nations 1:1-6 (Zeeland: Legacy Icons, 2013).
If reading the Didache sounds like the Gospels it is because this work is widely describe by scholars as the early church discipleship manual. It’s also a great place to start to consider the connection between generosity and our neighbor.
We must treat people the opposite of what the world expects. We manage this by abstaining from the patterns of behavior related to our flesh and body. And notice how generosity appears as sharing possessions and giving charitably.
The one who shares with everyone follows God’s design for handling His gifts and is labeled blameless. And then the last phrase really struck me. “Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you have discerned to whom you will give.”
As we start the new year, I pray that all those who have more than enough resources for living will have their surplus sweat in their hands until they have discerned whether to share it with a neighbor or give it charitably to a ministry.
Blessed is he who gives charitably according to the commandment, for he is blameless.