Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Luke 6:30
“Do what is good, and take what you have earned through the toils God has given you and give simply to those in need, not wavering about to whom you should give something and to whom not. Give to everyone. For God wishes every one to be given something from his own gifts.
And so, those who receive something will render an account to God, about why they received something and to what end. For those who received because of hardship will not face condemnation; but those who received out of hypocrisy will pay a penalty.
And so the one who gives is innocent. For as he was given a ministry from the Lord to complete, he has completed it in a simple way, having no doubts about to whom he should give or not give something. This ministry that is completed in a simple way becomes glorious before God, so that the one who ministers thus, in a simple way, will live to God.”
The Shepherd of Hermas 27.4-6, Commandment II (c. A.D. 70-140) as reported by Bart Ehrman in Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) 265.
As we shift from the visions section of this ancient document to the commandment section, giving appears as a ministry that is completed. What a beautiful picture.
In this commandment, Hermas writes that God blesses us, instructs us to give, reminds us we will have to give an account to God, and describes the ministry only after we have given.
Has God blessed you with resources that you need to dispense? Don’t wait a day. Remember you will have to give an account to God for all you have been given. What account do you have to give?