“Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them” (Matthew 6:1)
Alms being amongst the righteous acts ought to be performed with the desire and will of helping the poor. We are bound to take heed to the commandment of alms as it is a sign of a “righteous” man, the seed of Abraham our father; as it is said, in Genesis. “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Genesis 18:19)
Foremost, in the Holy Church, when we put money into the alms- chest; we shall know only to righteously give for only HE has the will to know. Alms shall not be given to the needy unaware of whom we bestowed; nor does the poor man know of whom he receives; for, behold, this is deed for the sake of alms.
In the gospel it’s stated, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself rewards you openly.” Our alms giving shall be from inward, so we may be endorsed before GOD, not to be praised by others. “Take heed of it,” is to take caution against pretense in giving alms to the needy. (Matthew 6:1-4)
The giving of alms is a great deed which all the Disciples of Lord Jesus labiality shown upon their righteousness. It is the law of nature to have sympathy for the poor and deprived people; As the Prophet David said, “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor” (Psalm 112:9)
Yet, people give alms not for their obedience to GOD or love to man, but in pride. Now the doom that Lord Jesus Christ passes upon, is very observable; “Verily, I say unto you, they have their reward. At first view this seems a promise if they have their reward they have enough but two words in it make it a threatening.” (Matthew 6:2)
When people offer money and materials to help the poor, especially those who are prominent in the world, usually are keen to the announced of their donation; But as it is said, “when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,” We need to be careful that the actions we in front others or within a crowd, which will eventually lead to our failure. Alms giving are accepted only when we live Christian life in faith.
Many can help the poor in assorted ways, but it does not mean they understand the meaning of alms giving without being Christians; on one side, they are violating GOD’s law and on the other, giving some of their wealth to the poor forsake the admiration is ill- mannered. While the idea of helping the poor is virtue, they need to understand almsgiving being a liturgy. They must live by the commandment in order for their alms to be accepted in the eyes of the Lord.