Dar
Dar é princípio do Reino de Deus. Jesus deu tudo — até a própria vida. A Bíblia nos ensina que é mais bem-aventurado dar do que receber, e que Deus ama ao que dá com alegria.
Dar com alegria
Deus ama ao que dá com alegria. Dai e dar-se-vos-á. O generoso prospera e quem abençoa será abençoado.
Each man as he casted in his heart, not of heaviness, or of need; for God loveth a glad giver.
And God is mighty to make all grace abound in you, that ye in all things evermore have all sufficience, and abound into all good work;
And he that ministereth seed to the sower, shall give also bread to eat, and he shall multiply your seed, and make much the increasings of fruits of your rightwiseness;
that in all things ye made rich wax plenteous [or abound] into all simpleness, which worketh by us doing of thankings to God.
For if the will be ready, it is accepted after that that it hath, not after that that it hath not.
Give ye, and it shall be given to you. They shall give into your bosom a good measure, and well-filled, and shaken together, and overflowing; for by the same measure, by which ye mete, it shall be meted again to you.
Princípios de generosidade
Honra ao Senhor com as tuas primícias. Não negues o bem a quem o merece. A alma generosa prosperará.
Honour thou the Lord of thy chattel [or substance], and of the best of all thy fruits give thou to poor men;
Do not thou forbid to do well him that may; if thou mayest, also do thou well.
A soul that blesseth, shall be made fat; and he that filleth, shall be filled also.
The gift of a man alargeth his way; and maketh space to him before princes.
All day he coveteth and desireth; but he that is a just [or rightwise] man, shall give, and shall not cease.
Deem thou that that is just, and deem thou a needy man and a poor man.
Bring ye each tithe into my barn, that meat be in mine house, and prove ye me on this thing, saith the Lord, if I shall not open to you the gutters of heaven, and shall shed out to you blessing, till to abundance.
O ensino de Jesus
Quando deres esmola, não toque a trombeta. A generosidade do coração importa mais que a grandeza do donativo.
Therefore when thou doest alms, do not thou trumpet before thee, as hypocrites do in synagogues and streets, that they be worshipped of men; soothly I say to you, they have received their meed.
But when thou doest alms, know not thy left hand what thy right hand doeth,
that thine alms be in huddles, and thy Father that seeth in huddles, shall requite [or yield] to thee.
heal ye sick men, raise ye dead men, cleanse ye mesels [or leprous men], cast ye out devils; freely ye have taken, freely give ye.
Jesus saith to him, If thou wilt be perfect, go, and sell all things that thou hast, and give to poor men, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, and pursue me.
And give to each that asketh thee, and if a man taketh away those things that be thine, ask thou not again.
Delight thou in the Lord; and he shall give to thee the askings of thine heart.
A sinner shall borrow, and shall not pay back; but a just [or rightwise] man hath mercy, and shall give.
Who am I, and who is my people, that we may promise all these things to thee? All things be thine, and we have given to thee those things, which we have taken of thine hand.
And he said to them, Go ye, and eat ye fat things, and drink ye wine made sweet with honey, and send ye parts to them, that made not ready to themselves, for it is an holy day of the Lord; do not ye be sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
And if I part all my goods into the meats of poor men, and if I betake my body, so that I burn, and if I have not charity, it profiteth to me nothing.