1. Charity in an Expression of God’s Love and Draws Us Near to God

World Scripture

Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord delivers him in the day of trouble.
Psalm 41.1

They feed with food the needy wretch, the orphan, and the prisoner, for love of Him, saying, “We wish for no reward nor thanks from you.”
Qur’an 76.8-9

They sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.
Acts 2.45

Charity—to be moved at the sight of the thirsty, the hungry, and the miserable and to offer relief to them out of pity—is the spring of virtue.
Kundakunda, Pancastikaya 137 (Jainism)

If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be… 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. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and the poor, in the land.
Deuteronomy 15.7-11

When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25.31-40

On the Day of Judgment God Most High will say, “Son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit me.” He will reply, “My Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the Universe!” He will say, “Did you not know that my servant so-and-so was ill and yet you did not visit him? Did you not know that if you had visited him you soon would have found Me with him?”
Hadith of Muslim (Islam)

“Ye shall walk after the Lord your God” [Deut. 13.4]. But how can a man walk after God who is a devouring fire? [Deut. 4.24]. It means, walk after His attributes: clothe the naked, visit the sick, comfort the mourner, bury the dead.
Talmud, Sota 14a (Judaism)

When the Holy One loves a man, He sends him a present in the shape of a poor man, so that he should perform some good deed to him, through the merit of which he may draw to himself a cord of grace.
Zohar 1.104a (Judaism)

The gods have not ordained that humans die of hunger; even to the well-fed man death comes in many shapes. The wealth of the generous man never wastes away, but the niggard has none to console him. He who, possessed of food, hardens his heart against the weak man, hungry and suffering, who comes to him for help, though of old he helped him— surely he finds none to console him. He is liberal who gives to anyone who asks for alms, to the homeless, distressed man who seeks food; success comes to him in the challenge of battle, and for future conflicts he makes an ally. He is no friend who does not give to a friend, to a comrade who comes imploring for food; let him leave such a man—his is not a home— and rather seek a stranger who brings him comfort. Let the rich man satisfy one who seeks help; and let him look upon the long view: For wealth revolves like the wheels of a chariot, coming now to one, now to another. In vain does the mean man acquire food;
it is—I speak the truth—verily his death; he who does not cherish a comrade or a friend, who eats all alone, is all sin.
Rig Veda 10.117.1-6 (Hinduism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Parents suffer when one of their children are sick. When one of your siblings is hurt, you feel pain. When seeing people suffering from poverty or war, a saint feels their suffering more intensely than his own difficulties.

Forgetting his own circumstances, he gives all he has to help them. This way has been bequeathed as the standard of morality the world over, in all ages and nations. It is the philanthropic spirit, the love for humanity.
(186:74-75, January 29, 1989)

When you see gaunt children playing on the street, underfed and wearing tattered clothes, you should hug and embrace them as you would your own children. You should feel ashamed if you do not want to do that. You should feel more shameful than would a parent who abandoned her child feel should she catch a glimpse of him on the street.

Seeing him as she passes by the town, where years before she had left him on a doorstep or perhaps in the care of a nanny, she cannot hold up her head. That is the bond of heart. If your own children were that gaunt, wouldn’t you embrace them and shed tears until your bones melt?
(46:281, August 17, 1971)

While walking on the street, if you see an old man with a hump in his back you should think, “My Father might have such an appearance when He visits me.” When you see the rough and swollen hands of a laborer, you should think, “My Father who is searching for me might look worse than him.” When you meet a beggar, you should be able to bow your head, thinking, “He is not a beggar, but actually my Father.” Know that God’s heart dwells in each of these miserable and pitiful looking people. You should love them, regardless of your situation and social position, shedding tears with the heart that each of them is your own father. Only then, can you meet God.
(8:345-46, February 28, 1960)

At lunch time, if you should see an elderly person who is in distress because he does not have enough money to buy food, take him with you to the cafeteria and treat him to a good meal. Serve him as you would serve your grandparents.
(215:109, February 6, 1991)

I cannot forget those who visited me when I was lonely in prison and comforted me in my miserable plight. I might forget about my family members or relatives, but never those who sought me because of the bonds of true love.
(63:208, October 14, 1972)

Once I rescued a prostitute, a young girl who had fallen into that pitiful situation. I loved her as my own sister; I remember it as if it were yesterday. After listening to her story, I wept with her and truly uplifted her. That kind of deed is greater and more precious than prayer.
(May 1, 1977)

I have studied the ocean industry because I know it is a way to feed the starving people of Africa. For twenty years, steadfast, without letting up, I have worked hard to pave this road. I made my own nets, built boats in my own factories, and created my own methods of fishing. The waters off Africa have an abundance of fish. If only the people of Africa could harvest them, they would have food to spare. How then could they possibly die of starvation?…
Sixty thousand people starve to death every year, mostly in Africa. Ask your own conscience. These people are starving due to the want of food, whereas here in America you eat so much that you become as plump as a cow and then have to work hard dieting and exercising to reduce that weight. Should you not be punished by God?
(261:307, July 24, 1994)