Give to the poor.
If you’ve been around a church long enough, you’ll be asked to give money to a charity or volunteer at a community event bringing basic relief to others. The Bible consistently encourages or even commands believers to share resources with those who have needs. From the Mosaic Law to the New Testament, the moral injunction to be generous with others remains clear.
A religious term for giving to the poor is “almsgiving.” This older word appears in the Bible and other religions. For Christians, giving alms is so central and pervasive in the Scripture, we can safely assume God has a more eternal and Kingdom purpose in mind. Yes, we should care about meeting immediate needs. At the same time, what does abundant generosity say about God and the eternal Gospel?
What is Almsgiving, and How is it Different from Tithes or Offerings?
Almsgiving means the practice of giving to those in need, particularly the poor, as an act of compassion. Most religions include giving alms as a moral obligation and a way to build a better society. Giving alms usually involves donating money, food, clothing, or time to those in need.
Almsgiving serves a different purpose than tithes and offerings. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to give one-tenth of their produce, livestock, and earnings to the priests. These tithes supported the Levites, who served in the Temple and didn’t have their own land to farm or other businesses (Numbers 18:21-24). Tithes also sustained the worship in the Temple and provided for community feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). Tithes were more of a duty, and not optional.
Offerings were other voluntary gifts given to God (the priests, the Temple) beyond the obligated tithe. These could include grain, gold, silver, or other items offered to the Lord as thanksgiving for his abundant provision (Leviticus 22:18-20). The Israelites often presented offerings during special festivals and sacrifices. While God commanded tithes, offerings gave people the opportunity to give freely to God.
Almsgiving is different than both tithes and offerings since it wasn’t directly for the temple system or the priests. Instead, it focused on directly helping the poor.
What Bible Verses Support Almsgiving?
In the Old Testament, God passed down laws to make sure the poor were provided for. He commanded the Israelites to leave the edges of their fields unharvested and not gather every grape from their vineyards so the poor and foreigners could have food (Leviticus 19:9-10). If followed, the needy in society could have their basic needs met.
The Mosaic Law also had built-in generosity as in holidays like the Sabbath Year and the Year of Jubilee. In the Sabbath Year, debts were to be forgiven, and the land rested so the poor could eat from natural growth. This also helped land from being depleted through excessive farming, what we today call letting the fields lie fallow. Even the land got relief. Similarly, during the unique and amazing Year of Jubilee, property was restored to its original owners, preventing generational poverty and oppression (Leviticus 25:35-38). No other religion or culture had the Year of Jubilee.
God also communicates his care for the poor in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, where he tells the Israelites to open their hands to the needy and lend freely. The Lord promises blessings to those who give generously. Moving into the wisdom literature, we further see the power of generosity. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” God promises to personally repay all generosity to those who have need.
Not surprisingly, Jesus also clearly taught giving to the poor. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, he taught his disciples, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4) Christ says to give without wanting fame for it since the only concern should be the Father’s word, knowing he sees and rewards generosity. In Luke 12:33-34, Jesus urged his disciples to sell their temporary possessions, which by nature they couldn’t keep, and give to the poor in order to get more treasures in heaven, which they could never lose.
Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan equates the love of neighbor with being personally inconvenienced to radically care for those in crisis, especially those not like us (Luke 10:25-37). Christ also shares a judgment scene in Matthew 25:31-46, which connects helping the poor with directly serving Jesus. He identifies with the hungry, thirsty, and those in prison. Kindness to the “least of these” he counts as a personal gift.
The apostles continued to teach these principles in radical ways. In Acts 4:34-35, believers sold their personal possessions and gave money to those in need, ensuring no one lacked. Paul encouraged abundant generosity in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 with “God loves a cheerful giver,” emphasizing how Christians should give with joy, knowing they invest in the eternal Kingdom. The disciple Jesus loved, John, writes in 1 John 3:17 how believers should show love through giving. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
What Does Almsgiving Say about God and the Gospel?
While we see some overlap between Christianity and other religions regarding almsgiving, Christianity expresses a much deeper and more eternal reality through generosity.
God created humanity in his image (Genesis 1:27), giving every individual inalienable worth and dignity. This reminds us how God values all people equally and wants to have everyone cared for and loved. He intended no one should go without their needs met. With sin, we became selfish and violent, leading to inequality and suffering.
Our redemption includes aligning with his desires and our design in loving and caring for others since we honor the image of God in each person. When we give to the poor, we recognize their value theologically and practically as God’s special creation. Almsgiving goes beyond charity; we selflessly live the reality that every person matters to God.
The Bible defines God’s character with love, and he gives from love. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” As the essence of the Gospel, God gives sacrificially to meet humanity’s greatest need: salvation from sin and eternal death. His giving isn’t due to our merit or achievement but driven by his mercy and grace. In this way, almsgiving gives a hint of God’s infinite heart. When we give to others simply from love, not expecting anything in return, we imitate his compassion.
Almsgiving tangibly proclaims the Gospel. When we meet the physical needs of others, we provide a glimpse of how God meets spiritual needs through Christ. Jesus gave his life to restore us to a right relationship with God. The Father, Son, and Spirit acted as one, driven by God’s desire for all people to be reconciled to him now and forever. When we help feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or give shelter to the homeless, we show how God sent his son to rescue us and give us the riches of eternal life (2 Corinthians 8:9). Through these temporary acts and resources, we point to an eternal hope in Christ.
What are Ways We Can Participate in Almsgiving Today?
There are several creative and impactful ways to participate in almsgiving for Christians today.
- Donate Money or Resources. A straightforward way to give alms remains financial donations. When we contribute to churches, charities, or local/national/international organizations that serve the poor, we directly support their mission. Donating materials like clothing, shoes, and other items to food banks or homeless shelters gives people resources they need. For a creative alternative, organize a garage sale and donate the proceeds to charity.
- Volunteer Time and Skills. We’re not limited to finances. Offering your time and skills can make a huge impact. Places like soup kitchens, food banks, or shelters need volunteers for all sorts of tasks, and doing so helps you connect with the community while meeting real needs. For a creative option, mechanics can provide free vehicle repairs for low-income families.
- Support Food Drives and Community Pantries. In places like the suburbs, “food insecurity” is when a family has a job, home, and a car but still struggle to feed their family after all the other expenses. Participating in food drives can be an amazing way to help. Donate non-perishable items to local pantries or put together meal kits for families in need. To be creative, you can set up a little “free pantry” in your neighborhood where people can take or leave food items.
- Sponsor a Child or Family. Sponsoring a child through international organizations like World Vision gives access to health care, education, and basic needs for impoverished children around the world. A local option might be sponsoring a family through the holidays provides gifts and meals during festive times. Generally, local food banks and charities have programs for this. If you’re looking for a creative approach, involve family or community group by pooling resources for multiple families.
- Create Care Packages. Assembling care packages for the homeless thoughtfully addresses needs. You might need to ask a local shelter for opportunities or suggested items (and what not to give), but generally you can include toiletries, snacks, socks, and water bottles. To be creative, also place a loving or encouraging handwritten note.
- Use Technology for Giving. Modern technology provides new ways to practice almsgiving. Many apps allow you to round up purchases and donate a little to charity. You can also support micro-lending platforms like Kiva, which empowers people in developing countries to start businesses or get an education. Social media offers a way to involve others in these same methods.
- Practice Random Acts of Kindness. We don’t always need a structured program. You can meet needs through a spontaneous act like paying for someone’s groceries or coffee, or leaving a more than generous tip. These types of giving spreads kindness and blesses others throughout your day, helping you to live generously instead of only on special occasions. For a more creative touch, take small gift cards with you or produce a handwritten note with inspiring messages to the people you encounter.
Through combining creativity with compassion, we can all meet needs in meaningful ways. Almsgiving offers us a simple and profound way to reflect God’s heart and communicate the Gospel.
Peace.
Further Reading
How Giving Alms Radically Transforms Our Lives
What is Almsgiving? Meaning and Examples of the Third Pillar of Lent
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/ADragan
