What is charity?

Charity – What is it?

The dictionary says charity is "the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need."

What does God say about charity? 

In Acts 20:35 it says: "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

In Hebrews 13:16 it says: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

In Proverbs 19:17 it says: "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."

In Deuteronomy 15:7-11 it says:  “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly[a] on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’"

In Matthew 6:2-4 it says: 

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

In II Corinthians 9:7 it says: "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

In Matthew 25:34-40 it says: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

So when did God say anything about the state taking tax payer money to help the poor? 

Effective charity starts with you and me. If we all were practicing what God commanded us, we wouldn't need the government welfare programs that seem to be creating chronic poverty and entitlement issues.