And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. - Hebrews 13:16
Doing good was something always spoken of in the early Church. Believers were commended to in practical ways do good deeds. Requirements for Presbyters, Deacons, those in leadership, was that they be servants and rich in good deeds. Giving to the poor was not an option in the New Testament but rather one of the chief ways Jesus Christ emphasized dealing with money. Also the Apostles followed this pattern and emphasized this as one of the traditions and tenets of the Church. John Chrysostom in 300 A.D. said, "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours but theirs."
The Apostle John says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 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? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16-19). Having a remembrance and love for the poor always is a vital part of New Testament Christianity and of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “The poor you will always have with you.” So this is a continual God-given responsibility and ministry of the Church. What a joy it is to live for others and help the least and not always fend for ourselves. When we realize the Heavenly Father is taking care of all of our needs we will be more open to share this care and love with the poor and other brethren.
