In the gospel of Mark, Jesus visits the temple in Jerusalem with his disciples. In an open area of the temple are receptacles for donations. He sees rich people put in large amounts. He also sees a poor widow donate two lepta, the smallest coins in circulation. He tells his disciples,
Truly…this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. (Mark 12:43 – 44 NIV)
We find such charity by the poor praised in the Bible. For example, Paul writes,
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. (2 Corinthians 8:1 – 3 NIV)
Charity by the poor is confusing. We expect the poor to receive rather than to give charity. Why should those who need money give away what little they have? Surely whatever can be accomplished with their meager donations can be accomplished with less sacrifice by others.
Our choices, including charity, are closely related to our attitudes. Attitude plays a central role in the practice of Christianity. Understanding the Christian perspective on attitude aids in understanding the appeal of charity by the poor. When Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment, he responds with two related to attitude.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37 – 40 NIV)
The Law and the Prophets refer to the instructions in Hebrew scripture. The Law and the Prophets hang on the commandments Jesus cites because the proper attitudes induce the behavior they prescribe. Proper attitudes also induce behavior beyond what is prescribed. After discussing the greatest commandments, Jesus is asked what it means to be a neighbor. He responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds…. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ (Luke 10:30 – 35 ESV)
Hebrew scripture prohibits robbery. Love for a neighbor induces the Samaritan to go further and care for a victim. His attitude shapes his behavior.
However, our behavior can also shape our attitudes. Much as we can choose to train our bodies, we can also choose to train our minds. In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes,
…train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way…. (1 Timothy 4:7 – 8 ESV).
We improve our attitudes through spiritual disciplines like prayer, ritual, and Bible study. Charity can be another spiritual discipline, one through which we reform our attitudes toward money. The Bible repeatedly warns about the love of money. For example, Paul writes,
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Tim. 6:9 – 10 NIV)
Jesus also warns about the love of money, explaining that it can compete with the love of God. He teaches that we can protect ourselves from the love of money by giving it away.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…. No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:19 – 24 NIV)
Because charity can be a way of shaping attitude, charity can benefit not only those who receive but also those who give. In the book of Acts, Paul cites benefits from giving when he describes his own charity. He explains that although he is entitled to support from those to whom he ministers, he prefers to work so that he can provide for others.
I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 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.” (Acts 20:33 – 35 ESV)
Charity by the poor is confusing because it seems to make their hard circumstances even harder. However, charity is intertwined with attitude. With charity, we prioritize our love for others over our own comfort. For Christians, loving others is more important than living comfortably. For the poor as well as the rich, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”