William Ames, Puritan minister, discusses aid. 1) Seek to give more to the good. 2) Be not over critical in seeking out faults of the poor. Charity does not easily think of evil. (Love keeps no record of wrongs, even to aid recipients!).
Isn’t much of modern discourse, especially the debate over foreign aid, all about being curiously inquisitive to the hidden fault of the poor?
How can you glorify God with alms?
Edward Reynolds, Westminster minister, makes a charge to rich people. Some lay up for heirs, but works of mercy are spent on yourself! (Proverbs 19:17). The money given to the poor is lent to God, and provides us a comfort here, and a reward hereafter.
Isn’t this rich irony, that giving to the poor would be more of a treat to yourself than anything else? Do we believe all of Proverbs?
How can you expend upon yourself?
#christian #malariamustdie #kindnesspassiton #theopolis #loveistheway
Greg Johnson