Charity begins with those that are closest to you. Your friends, relatives, neighbours that are in need. Maybe you have a friend that is struggling financially or is buried in debts. Or a cousin who lost his job and has trouble standing up on his or her own feet. Or a brother who can barely pay the rent. You can help them out.
What if there is somebody that you want to help, in your family or in your circle of friends, but you had a fight with them? Someone you know but aren't on good terms with? Then what do you do? You don't know whether or not you should help this person or not. You don't know whether they are still holding a grudge against you or not. You don't know if they even deserve your help or not. In that case, help them. Forgiveness is better than charity. Forgive that person for what happened in the past. But remember not to talk down to them or use your money as leverage against them.
When you give charity, then there are no strings attached. That is it. You get nothing more out of it. You don't expect anything in return. If they thank you or do you a favour in return, that's their good nature. You shouldn't expect it and if they don't do that, you should not get offended.
Sometimes people give charity but they condescend as they give. They don't exactly insult the person they give to, but they give in a way that pierces through the receiver's dignity. They make the receiver feel ashamed of him or herself. They make them feel worthless and inferior.That type of giving is not charity. Charity is not a way of showing off your wealth to the helpless. It is not a way of showing off to your peers that you are a good person.
The ultimate rule of giving charity is simple. When your right hand gives charity, your left hand should not know about it. This means that give charity in such a way, that no one except you know about it. Don't tell anyone, don't show off to anyone. No one else but only you should know about it, to ensure that the real purpose of charity is fulfilled.
Through charity, the receiver gets many benefits. Some are obvious, like getting financial help, but there are others that are far more beneficial in the long run. If a person needs money for something important, like food, but has no source of getting any, he might consider stealing and thus end up becoming a thief. To defend himself from being caught, he will start lying as well. But if the needy had received charity, he would not have even thought of stealing, and ultimately, wouldn't have needed to lie. This is how a little help changes the receiver's future.
Charity is not only beneficial for the poor in helping them better their way of living, but is also beneficial for the giver of charity. How? you may ask. Well, let me put it this way. If a person intentionally gives a part of his wealth to someone else, without expecting anything in return, can that person ever become selfish? Absolutely not. This is how charity helps improve the giver's personality. Furthermore, giving charity cleanses the wealth of the giver. It helps in making the person feel more peaceful and positive.
Giving charity is what the world needs. It is a way through which world poverty can end. There is no shortage of well off people. Giving charity reminds us to not be selfish. It helps us from wanting more and more money. It prevents us from trying to get what we don't deserve. That is why I say charity is what the world needs.
No comments:
Post a Comment