Money talks, but God listens to what we do with it. The Bible doesn’t just ask us to believe the right things or sing the right songs. It calls us to open our hands and give to those who have nothing, and it uses a specific word for this kind of giving: alms.
Almsgiving is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture, woven through both the Old and New Testaments as a mark of genuine faith. Understanding what alms truly means can transform how we see our money, our neighbors, and our walk with God.
What Does Alms Mean in the Bible?
Alms refers to money, food, or goods given to the poor and needy as an act of mercy and religious devotion. In Scripture, almsgiving flows from a heart shaped by God’s compassion and serves as visible proof that faith is alive and active, not merely spoken.
The Hebrew and Greek Roots
The Old Testament uses the Hebrew word “tzedakah,” which means righteousness or justice. Giving to the poor wasn’t optional charity—it was an act of justice that reflected God’s own character.
The New Testament uses the Greek word “eleēmosynē,” which means mercy or compassion. This shift in language shows that almsgiving springs from a heart that has received God’s mercy and now extends it to others.
Alms in the Old Testament
God commanded His people to care for the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner. Deuteronomy 15:11 (ESV) says, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'”
The Law of Moses included specific provisions like leaving the edges of fields unharvested so the poor could glean food. This wasn’t about pity—it was about building a society that mirrored God’s justice.
Alms in the New Testament
Jesus elevated almsgiving to a spiritual discipline on par with prayer and fasting. In Matthew 6:2-4 (ESV), He said, “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Notice Jesus didn’t say “if” you give—He said “when.” Almsgiving was assumed to be a normal part of following Him.
Why Does God Care So Much About Almsgiving?
It Reflects His Character
God is generous, merciful, and just. When we give to the poor, we mirror the nature of the One who gave everything for us.
Psalm 140:12 (ESV) declares, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.” Our almsgiving aligns us with God’s own work in the world.
It Tests the Heart
Money reveals what we truly worship. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 (ESV), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
If our wallets stay closed to the needy, our hearts may be closed to God. Almsgiving forces us to confront our idols—comfort, security, control—and trust God instead.
It Proves Faith Is Real
James asks the bluntest question in Scripture: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16, ESV).
Faith without works is dead. Almsgiving is one of the clearest works that proves faith is alive.
How Should We Give Alms Today?
Give Secretly
Jesus warned against turning almsgiving into a performance. The Pharisees loved public displays of generosity because it fed their pride.
God wants our giving to flow from love, not a hunger for applause. When we give in secret, we protect our hearts from pride and keep our focus on God’s approval, not human praise.
Give Sacrificially
The widow in Mark 12:41-44 gave two small copper coins—everything she had. Jesus said she gave more than all the wealthy donors because she gave out of her poverty, not her surplus.
True almsgiving costs us something. It requires us to trust God with what we think we need.
Give Consistently
Almsgiving isn’t a one-time event or an emotional response to a crisis. It should be woven into the fabric of our lives.
1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV) instructs, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper.” Regular, planned giving trains our hearts to hold money loosely.
Give Wisely
Generosity doesn’t mean foolishness. Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV) says, “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
We should seek to give in ways that truly help, not enable harmful behavior. Wisdom and compassion work together.
What Are the Blessings of Almsgiving?
God Remembers and Rewards
When Cornelius prayed and gave alms, an angel told him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4, ESV). God doesn’t forget our generosity.
The reward isn’t always financial, but God promises to care for those who care for the needy. Proverbs 19:17 (ESV) says, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
Our Own Needs Are Met
Luke 6:38 (ESV) records Jesus saying, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
God doesn’t promise to make us wealthy, but He does promise to provide for those who trust Him enough to give freely.
We Store Treasure in Heaven
Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything and give to the poor, then he would have “treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21, ESV). Earthly wealth evaporates, but what we give in Jesus’ name lasts forever.
Every act of mercy, every dollar given in faith, builds an account in eternity that will never be lost or stolen.
What Happens When We Refuse to Give?
We Reveal a Hard Heart
1 John 3:17 (ESV) cuts to the core: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Refusing to give when we have the means exposes a heart that hasn’t truly grasped the gospel. God gave His Son for us—how can we withhold a few dollars from someone in need?
We Miss Out on Blessing
Proverbs 21:13 (ESV) warns, “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.” There’s a sobering connection between our generosity and God’s responsiveness to our prayers.
When we harden our hearts to the needy, we may find God’s hand less open to us in our own times of need.
We Hoard What Will Rot
James 5:2-3 (ESV) paints a grim picture: “Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.”
Money we refuse to use for God’s purposes doesn’t make us secure. It decays, and one day it will testify against us.
Practical Steps to Begin Giving Alms
If almsgiving hasn’t been part of your walk with God, here’s how to start:
- Pray for a generous heart. Ask God to break any love of money and replace it with compassion for the needy.
- Set aside a specific amount each week or month. Treat it like any other bill—non-negotiable and planned.
- Look for needs around you. The poor aren’t just statistics in faraway countries. They’re in your neighborhood, your church, your workplace.
- Give without expecting anything back. True almsgiving asks nothing in return—not gratitude, not recognition, not even a tax deduction.
- Partner with trustworthy ministries. Find organizations that serve the poor with integrity and biblical faithfulness, and support them consistently.
Final Thoughts on Almsgiving
Alms are more than spare change dropped in a jar. They are acts of worship, declarations of trust, and visible proof that God’s kingdom has taken root in our hearts.
When we give to the needy, we testify that this world is not our home, that money is not our security, and that Jesus is worth more than anything we could hoard. We also partner with God in His mission to care for the broken, the forgotten, and the desperate.
So open your hand. Give in secret. Trust God to provide. And watch how He uses your small acts of mercy to build treasure in heaven and transform lives on earth.
If you’re ready to grow deeper in your understanding of biblical generosity, explore more resources on feeding the poor and hungry and discover how Scripture calls us to show compassion to others in practical, life-changing ways.