LET’S START UP THAT LADDER!

            I was recently reading an article that talked about charity (Tzedakah in Hebrew). In his teaching on charity, Moses Maimonides, a Jewish scholar from the 12^th century, defined eight levels of giving (Maimonides’ ladder). So…picture a ladder.

            Because there are eight rungs on Maimonides’ ladder, I am splitting it between two blogs. Instead of top to bottom I am going from the bottom rung up to the top. By this, let’s approach a ladder that is leaning against a building. I want to get from the ground where I am to the roof. I put my foot on the bottom rung and work my way up, each rung building on the next. I can’t get to the roof unless I’ve stepped on all the rungs along the way. The four bottom rungs on Maimonides’ ladder would look like this.

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   ------------                   Giving to the poor without being asked.

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   -------------                 Giving directly to the poor upon being asked.

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   -------------                 Giving less than one should but doing so cheerfully.

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   -------------                 Giving donations grudgingly.

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            At the bottom, I have to step on the first rung of that ladder called charity. The ground I’m standing on is a place where I don’t give at all. But then I step on that first rung, and I do give. I’m not doing it happily, but I am giving. It’s one little step.

            The next rung moves me a little further. I’m still giving, but now I’m doing it cheerfully! “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7) And with that rung, I’m definitely moving up!

            So I’m giving and I’m giving cheerfully, what’s the next step? Now I’m giving directly to the poor when I’m asked. That’s good. I’m asked to give, and I give. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (Matthew 5:42)

            And then the next step says I’m going to give without even being asked! Now that’s impressive. No one has asked me to give, but I see a need and I give to help alleviate that need.  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? (1 John 3:17)

            These are some pretty impressive steps, just four steps that start up the ladder of charity. In just four steps, I WILL move from not giving at all to giving when I become aware of a need!

            Seemingly four simple steps on a ladder of charity, but some pretty significant steps. How does someone move from not giving at all to giving without being asked, simply because I perceive a need?

            Charity happens because we are generous. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)

            We are generous because God was first generous with us. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

            We are loved because God first loved us. We love because we are loved!

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)          

            CALL: God is good…

            RESPONSE:  All the time!

            CALL: All the time….

            RESPONSE: God is good!

            ALL: AMEN!