SIMPLE GENEROSITY

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’" (Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV)

Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier and a Christian.  One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms.  Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold, and Martin gave what he had.  He took his soldier's coat, worn and frayed as it was; he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar man.  That night he had a dream.  In it he saw the heavenly places and all the angels and Jesus in the midst of them; and Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier's cloak.  One of the angels said to Him, "Master why are You wearing that battered old cloak?  Who gave it to You?"  And Jesus answered softly, "My servant Martin gave it to Me."

When we learn the generosity, which without calculation helps [others] in the simplest things, we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Christ Himself. 

-- William Barclay in “The Gospel of Matthew”

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