What are Alms? What Does it Mean to Give Alms?

Give to the poor. 

If you’ve been around a church long enough, you’ll be asked to present money to a charity or volunteer at a community event bringing basic relief to others. The Bible consistently encourages and even commands believers to share resources with those that have needs. From the Mosaic Law to the New Testament, the moral injunction to be generous with others stays clear. 

A spiritual term for giving to the poor is “almsgiving.” This older word appears within the Bible and other religions. For Christians, giving alms is so central and pervasive within the Scripture, we will safely assume God has a more everlasting and Kingdom purpose in mind. Yes, we should always care about meeting immediate needs. At the identical time, what does abundant generosity say about God and the everlasting 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 an ethical obligation and a method to construct a greater society. Giving alms normally involves donating money, food, clothing, or time to those in need. 

Almsgiving serves a special purpose than tithes and offerings. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to present one-tenth of their produce, livestock, and earnings to the priests. These tithes supported the Levites, who served within the Temple and didn’t have their very own land to farm or other businesses (Numbers 18:21-24). Tithes also sustained the worship within the Temple and provided for community feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). Tithes were more of an obligation, and never 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 chance to present freely to God. 

Almsgiving is different than each tithes and offerings because 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 be certain the poor were provided for. He commanded the Israelites to depart the perimeters of their fields unharvested and never 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 just 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, in the course of the unique and amazing Year of Jubilee, property was restored to its original owners, stopping generational poverty and oppression (Leviticus 25:35-38). No other religion or culture had the Year of Jubilee. 

God also communicates his take care of the poor in Deuteronomy 15:7-11, where he tells the Israelites to open their hands to the needy and lend freely. The Lord guarantees blessings to those that give generously. Moving into the wisdom literature, we further see the facility of generosity. Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he’ll reward them for what they’ve done.” God guarantees to personally repay all generosity to those that 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, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, in order that your giving could also be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4) Christ says to present without wanting fame for it for the reason that only concern must 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 provides to the poor to be able to get more treasures in heaven, which they might never lose. 

Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan equates the love of neighbor with being personally inconvenienced to radically take care of 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 people in prison. Kindness to the “least of those” he counts as a private gift. 

The apostles continued to show these principles in radical ways. In Acts 4:34-35, believers sold their personal possessions and gave money to those in need, ensuring nobody 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 spend money on the everlasting 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 everlasting reality through generosity. 

God created humanity in his image (Genesis 1:27), giving every individual inalienable value and dignity. This reminds us how God values all people equally and desires to have everyone cared for and loved. He intended nobody should go without their needs met. With sin, we became selfish and violent, resulting in inequality and suffering. 

Our redemption includes aligning along with his desires and our design in loving and caring for others since we honor the image of God in every 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 truth that every one 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 satisfy humanity’s biggest need: salvation from sin and everlasting death. His giving isn’t as a result of our merit or achievement but driven by his mercy and style. In this manner, almsgiving gives a touch 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 offer a glimpse of how God meets spiritual needs through Christ. Jesus gave his life to revive 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 without end. 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 provides us the riches of everlasting life (2 Corinthians 8:9). Through these temporary acts and resources, we point to an everlasting hope in Christ. 

What are Ways We Can Participate in Almsgiving Today? 

There are several creative and impactful ways to take part in almsgiving for Christians today. 

1. Donate Money or Resources. An easy method to give alms stays 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.  
2. Volunteer Time and Skills. We’re not limited to funds. Offering your time and skills could make a big impact. Places like soup kitchens, food banks, or shelters need volunteers for all varieties 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.
3. Support Food Drives and Community Pantries.  In places just like the suburbs, “food insecurity” is when a family has a job, home, and a automobile but still struggle to feed their family in spite of everything the opposite expenses. Participating in food drives may be an incredible method to help. Donate non-perishable items to local pantries or put together meal kits for families in need. To be creative, you possibly can arrange somewhat “free pantry” in your neighborhood where people can take or leave food items.
4. Sponsor a Child or Family. Sponsoring a baby through international organizations like World Vision gives access to health care, education, and basic needs for impoverished children around the globe. An area option could be sponsoring a family through the vacations provides gifts and meals during festive times. Generally, local food banks and charities have programs for this. If you’re in search of a creative approach, involve family or community group by pooling resources for multiple families. 
5. Create Care Packages. Assembling care packages for the homeless thoughtfully addresses needs. You might must ask a neighborhood shelter for opportunities or suggested items (and what not to present), but generally you possibly can include toiletries, snacks, socks, and water bottles. To be creative, also place a loving or encouraging handwritten note. 
6. Use Technology for Giving. Modern technology provides recent ways to practice almsgiving. Many apps help you round up purchases and donate somewhat to charity. You may also support micro-lending platforms like Kiva, which empowers people in developing countries to start out businesses or get an education. Social media offers a method to involve others in these same methods. 
7. Practice Random Acts of Kindness. We don’t at all times need a structured program. You can meet needs through a spontaneous act like paying for somebody’s groceries or coffee, or leaving a greater than generous tip. These sorts of giving spreads kindness and blesses others throughout your day, helping you to live generously as an alternative 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 will all meet needs in meaningful ways. Almsgiving offers us an easy and profound method 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

Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an writer of fiction and non-fiction, he’s enthusiastic about teaching ministries and nonprofits the facility of storytelling to encourage and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a broadcast writer of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth in addition to Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight.