Many people may argue that they don’t have means to help others. But the Lord desires that we detach ourselves from selfishness and self-compassion and give of what we have to those in a worse condition than we are.

“The poor man’s gift, the fruit of self-denial, comes up before God as fragrant incense. And every act of self-sacrifice strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver’s heart, allying him more closely to the One who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.”1

Others may refer to the decadence of society and say that many take advantage of their good desire to help. The Bible confirms this statement, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). Another verse completes the balanced picture: “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (verse 13). Only those who are not shaped by circumstances but rather are faithful in carrying out their duty will be saved.

Some might believe that just by praying for the poor they are complying with God’s command, but the Bible states this is not so: “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15, 16). Your prayers avail nothing if you do not work accordingly. It is our duty to provide for those in need. This is why God has given us so much, so we can also share.

The Israelites received many blessings when they did this work, and so today we are also partakers of those blessings:

We have joy in our heart: “The effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature and, in their turn, of diffusing blessings to their fellow men. This is the highest honor, the greatest joy, that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator.”2

We lend to God: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17). God is the Owner and Creator of the universe. Everything is His, and if we lend to Him we will receive abundantly!

We receive more than what we give: “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Everything we need God will supply if we, in the same way and with a cheerful heart, give to those in need.

Whenever we share our blessings with those in need, we show that we love God over all things and our neighbor as ourselves. We cannot genuinely love God if we are not moved by others’ pain and sorrow.

“Whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17, 18). There are many around us that need the love and compassion of a kind heart. As we have received from Jesus, we will freely give to others because they too, like us, are bought with the precious blood of our Saviour. And don’t we appreciate Jesus’ saving blood? As we value Him, we should value those bought with it as well.

Jesus feels so strongly about the welfare work. He has commanded His children to help those in need. He says: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). Isn’t that amazing! When we favor others with the gifts God has bestowed upon us, we are serving Jesus Himself! This will be what Christ takes into account on the judgment day, to sentence us either to eternal life or to eternal damnation. Our eternal salvation depends on how we have shared with others the blessings that God has granted us.

The concept of helping the needy reminds me of the parable that Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus. (See Luke 16:19-31.) Lazarus was a poor and sick man that needed the sympathy and kindness of others, yet he was a faithful servant of the Lord who endured his trials faithfully. On the other hand, the rich man had plenty of wealth with which he could have easily helped those in need. This man was a professed believer. He knew what God required of him, but instead of fulfilling God’s word and actually helping his neighbor, he went on in self-gratification, ignoring Lazarus’s need. We can deduce that this person was basically a nominal Christian. He did not really have God’s love in his heart because he saw his brother in need and had the means to help him - but he simply ignored that duty. Soon both died, and Jesus portrays their destiny in an allegory form. Lazarus prepared himself for heaven. What about the rich man? His stingy attitude had caused him not to develop a character worthy of heaven. Self was cherished, and God was dishonored; thus he was walking in the wide path that leads to perdition. Sad, but this is the condition of many professed people of God. They misuse the means God has provided them, and, if their course is not changed, they will be found wanting. “Many who profess to be Christians provide abundantly for themselves, supplying all their imaginary wants, while they give no heed to the wants of the Lord’s cause. They have thought it gain to rob God by retaining all, or a selfish proportion, of His gifts as their own. But they meet with loss instead of gain.”3

God should be the first and best in our life. He is the Alpha and Omega; He should be everything to us. And when we trust and depend on Him in this way, we are not to cherish idols; we are not to cherish wealth or anything this world has to offer. Our heart will be filled with gratitude, for He has saved us, and nothing that He asks will be too dear for us not to offer Him. Jesus wants to save us! And by asking us to give to others He is cleansing our heart from pride, selfishness, and avarice. He is teaching us how to love.

Giving as we receive is the great rule of life. Will you lay up treasure in heaven today and not worry so much over the treasures on earth? Will you give blessings that you may receive blessings? If you lack this quality, ask the Lord to help you. Then you will see blessings in your life that you didn’t even know they existed!