What Does it Mean to Give Generously?

He has told you, O mortal, what is good, 

and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness 

and to walk humbly with your God?

    Micah 6:8 NRSVue

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

     2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 NRSVue

There is a new and intrtriguing book called Jewish Giving: Philanthropy and the shaping of American Jewish Life.  From what I can tell it examines the history of Jewish giving in the United States, the traditional "punching above their weight" for Jews across economic circumstances, as well as shifts in the focus of generosity in recent years. 

Two Jewish concepts came to mind as I read a review. One is the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam which means, essentially "mending the world." The other, mentioned in the book is Tzedakah, meaning "righteousness" or "justice." This is the responsibility to go beyond mere charitable acts to acting justly and ethically toward others. Tzedakah is a core Jewish value. 

As I did some snooping I came upon the "Eight Levels of Charity" identified by Maimonides, the 12thC Jewish philosopher. We would do well in the Christian community to ask how we are shaped by these important principles of Jewish generosity and how they are imperatives for the ways in which we give. 

Here are the breakdown of the eight levels, from least to most meritorious:

Giving grudgingly: The lowest level, where the giver offers charity with reluctance and negativity. 

Giving less than one should, but cheerfully: While the amount is insufficient, the giver maintains a positive attitude. 

Giving, but only when asked: The giver provides assistance only when directly approached for help. 

Giving before being asked: The giver anticipates the need and offers help before being requested. 

Giving anonymously to a known recipient: The giver is known to the recipient but the recipient doesn't know who gave the gift. 

Giving anonymously to an unknown recipient: Neither the giver nor the recipient knows the other's identity. 

Giving indirectly: This involves contributing to a communal fund managed by responsible individuals, where the giver and recipient are not directly linked. 

The highest level: This involves actively preventing poverty by offering a substantial gift or loan, teaching a trade, or providing support to establish a livelihood, thus enabling the individual to become self-sufficient.