Alexandra Shaw
| Jesus, Himself encouraged us to "feed the hungry, clothe the naked, cheer the sad, visit the sick and the afflicted, those in jails and prisons, and many more ways to reach out to others in compassion and charity of love. |
There are many ways to define charity. Love, in all of it's aspects, sharing, giving hope, help, encouragement, enlightenment, and many other manifestations of compassion for others, are all acts of charity. The classic "Love One Another", quoting Jesus Christ as He instructed not only those He spoke with, but offering a timeless message for us today in the 21st century, encourages us to reach outside of ourselves, saying or doing some act of loving value for another.
Too often, we are so wrapped up within our tiny lives, our trials, tribulations, sufferings, and often our real or imagined pain that we can't see the big picture. We think only of ourselves and how each and everything either helps or hinders us. Seldom do we stop and think how much worse it could be, or even take a moment to count our blessings, or look to our neighbor's pain with a compassionate spirit.
In my studies with Rabbi Solomon of Kabbalah.com, I have learned that the Jews believe that your sin (your selfishness, pride, ego, etc.) can be lessened and even removed before Tetragrammaton Jehovah (The Great God of all the Universe), by charitable acts. It is their belief that each thing we do creates either Light (Love of God) or darkness (sin, satan,etc.) that is judged by God. The Karmic Cause and Effect Universal law, the Christian belief of "you reap what you sow" and the modern day, "what goes around comes around" all express very much the same philosophy of the individual being held responsible for any and all acts, good or bad, in not only their own personal lives, but also in dealing with all others (business or personal contacts).
In all ways, we are creating our own reality with our help or hurt to others. There is a price to pay, whether we truly believe that or not, or live comfortably in denial and hope to just skate by in this life and go unpunished for our evil and selfishness.
God does not wait until we are dead to settle with us. Ever see a liar at work destroy someone's reputation to better themselves, and then within a very brief time be found out, losing all of their credibility and making their life a hell of their own creation? If we lie, when it is a critical time for us to have truth spoken about us, someone will lie against us. (Of course, there are times that we are attacked by evil, in a test or temptation that has nothing to do with our Karma.) If we steal, it won't be very long until someone steals something precious from us or when we desperately want something to work out in our own lives, it is denied to us. All doors are closed by the Holy Spirit because of our own sin.