Let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives

Do good quietly. - Hidden misfortune. - The widow's coins. - Give without reward expectancy. Invite the poor and the lame. - Instructions from the spirits: Material charity and moral charity. - Beneficence. - Compassion. - The orphans. - Ingratitude-repaid beneficence. - Exclusivist beneficence.

1. Do good in secrecy, away from the public, so that God may reward you. When you give alms do not sound a trumpet, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets to be honored by humans. They have already had their reward. When you give something, let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives. And God, who sees in secrecy, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4.)

2. When he stepped down from the mount a great multitude followed him. Then a leper came, worshipped him and said: - Lord, if you will you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said: - I will. Be you clean. And his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him: - Tell it nobody. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded for a testimony to them. (Matthew 8:1-4.)

3. Faith in future life enables us to properly deal with present existence and motivates us to prioritize our conscience's approval rather than the material reward. People that do good secretly, hiding the giving hand, show they have achieved a great moral progress. But those who prefer the human applause instead of divine assent prove they believe more in themselves than in God. Their actions show they disbelieve the future life, although they might allege the contrary.

There are people who give only because they are sure the recipient will shout the beneficence to all sides. Many display generosity publicly but refuse giving a penny in secrecy. This is why Jesus teaches that those who did good loudly have already been rewarded. People who gave something intending to reach the worldly recognition have already paid themselves. God owes them nothing else. They are due only the punishment for their pride.

Let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives. This teaching finely portrays the quiet beneficence. However, there is also the fake stealth. There are donors who, knowing beforehand someone else watches them, pretend hiding the giving hand. What a shameful joke of Christ's maxim! They have already received their reward too: they have been seen. This will provide them the human recognition. This is everything they will have.

There are givers who charge the acceptors a very expensive moral price. What recompense will such donors deserve? No one! They will be refused even the earthly reward because their names will be cursed. This will be the first punishment for their arrogance. Instead of rising to Heaven, the gold they boastfully donate injures the afflicted hands. No recompense will be due for such aid because it is deplored, and a damned help is a worthless coin.

Silent philanthropy is both material and moral charity. It helps in secrecy, without embarrassing the beneficiaries. When the aiders convert alms into work they also promote dignity, since accepting a job is quite different from begging. The true charity delicately disguises beneficence and avoids even a simple appearance which might hurt. Charity finds affectionate words which place the recipient at ease in front of the assister, whereas the prideful donation morally crushes the helped one. Generosity becomes even greater when the giver, inverting the roles, places themself in the acceptor's position when meeting them. This is what is meant by the words Let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives.

4. When a tragedy occurs, emotion encourages beneficence to work everywhere. But there is also a lot of invisible misery. There are many who suffer silently. The true generosity knows how to find the hidden misfortune without request.

Who is that honorable simply-dressed lady, who is accompanied by a young maid? They enter into a poor house whose dwellers know her, because they respectfully greet her. Where does she go to? She goes up to a humble room, where a mother is surrounded by her small children. When that lady arrives, joy bursts forth upon those thin faces, because they know she has come to soothe their ache. She has brought what they need, as well as gentle and consoling words which allow them to accept her aid without blushing. They are not professional beggars. The father is sick. While he is at the hospital the mother cannot work to provide her children what they need. Thanks to that good woman the poor children will no longer be cold nor hungry. They will go school well-clothed. For the smallest, the mother's breasts which feed them will not go dry. If any family member falls diseased, the benefactress provides them the necessary care. A car awaits her outdoors. From that house she goes to the hospital, in order to comfort the father about his family situation. Her vehicle is a kind of moving store, supplied with the needs of her protégés, that she visits one after the other. She never asks what their religion is nor what their opinions are. She considers all of them her siblings in God. After having finished her round she thinks to herself: I have greatly begun my day! What is her name? Where does she come from? Nobody knows! For those unhappy ones she is a consoling angel. No matter their beliefs, all of them bless her. Several prayers in her favor rise up to the Highest.

Why does she use such a simple clothing? Because she wants to avoid insulting their poverty with her luxury. Why does she take her daughter? To teach her how to do beneficence. The young lady also wants being charitable! However, the mother asks her: What can you give, my daughter, while you still have nothing of your own? If I pass you something of mine for you to give, what merit will you have? So, when we visit the sick you will help me to treat them. You can also make useful clothes for the children. In both ways you will be offering something of your own. This is the way which that worthy lady educates her daughter. Is she Spiritist? It does not matter!

At home she is a worldly woman as her position requires. People around her ignore the good she quietly does because she only expects approval from her own conscience. However, one day one of her protégés unexpectedly appears at her door, selling graceful handicrafts. When the saleswoman recognizes her supporter, the benefactress asks her to be silent and to tell nobody. Jesus spoke so.

5. Jesus sat down near the temple's treasury and watched the people putting money into it. Many rich did cast in much. Then a poor widow came. She threw into the treasury two small coins of little value. Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them: - Verily I tell you, this poor widow has donated more than all the others because they gave out of their plenty, whereas she, out of her poverty, has given all she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44. - Luke, 21:1-4.)

6. Many people, alleging they lack money for beneficence, self-declare unable to do good. Others promise they will do much charity if they become rich. Such intention is noble and sometimes sincere. However, are all of them free of selfish interest? Would everyone prioritize the needy's interest rather than theirs? Altruistic people think of others before of themselves. So, a concealed stingy thought, perhaps hidden from their own eyes, cancels one's intention merit. Anyway, even wealthless people can do good through their work, strength, intelligence and skills. This is the sacrifice God likes best. Nevertheless, most of people dream of quick and easy enrichment ways. They often seek fanciful whims like buried treasure, lottery, random chance, unexpected inheritance and other reveries. There are still others who ask the spirits' help in order to attain their material interests. Do they understand the sacred goal of Spiritism? Do they realize the mission of the godly spirits that communicate with the incarnate? Probably not! Hence they are often punished by disappointment.¹

The one who is short of material resources but wants to do good should accept their limitation and remind that the scarce widow's donation weighs more, on God's scales, than the plentiful gold of the rich. Of course their charitable hearts would feel much glad if they could vastly assist their siblings. However, can tears be dried only with currency? If we cannot do everything we should, then we should do everything we can! Should we remain idle just because we are short of money? The sincere wish to serve finds a thousand ways to be useful. Look for them and they will appear. If not in one way, then in another. Every healthy person can help someone else. They can offer consolation, lessen both the physical and moral suffering and do something good to their neighbors. Those who lack money can dedicate part of their free time to serve others. This is also the alms of the poor, the widow's donation.

7. Jesus spoke to his host: - When you make a dinner or supper, abstain from calling your friends, fellows, relatives or your rich neighbors, because they are able to invite you back and reward you. When you make a feast invite the poor, maimed, lame and blind. Then you will be blessed because they are unable to repay you. And you will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:12-14.)

8. When you make a feast, instead of your dear ones invite the needy and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. These strong figurative words contain a sublime guidance: we should do good to all without return expectation; we should help others only for inner rejoicing. Here, the image of an invitation to a feast means participation in the plenty we enjoy.

However, this teaching can be applied in a more literal sense as well. People often have unfortunate friends and relatives. Also follow the Jesus' teaching those who invite their poor familiars, receive them with goodwill and, through a sincere friendliness, hide the generous hand. Although not inviting the beggars, they are quietly doing a charity.

9. Love one another. Do to others whatever you would like others doing to you. This guidance contains all moral and all religion. If humankind followed them everyone would be happy. Hate would disappear. Going further, there would be no poverty because the rich's leftover would feed the poor. No helpless woman would drag feeble children anymore in the sad slums where I last incarnated.

Think of this if you possess more resources than you need. Do your best to support the less fortunate ones! Give others an unpaid helpful hand and you will meet, when leaving your fleshly body, friendly spirits waiting for you at a happier world entrance. Assist others so that God may assist you!

I cannot describe the joy I felt when, on reaching the spiritual world, I met those whom I had been granted an opportunity to serve!...

Love all your neighbors as yourself. When you repel a wretched one, you may be rejecting a past life beloved parent, sibling or friend of yours. Imagine thus the painful regret you will feel when you meet them again in the spiritual world!

Now let us discuss moral charity. Everyone can practice it because it is free of charge. However, it is sometimes the most challenging one to do. Moral charity means human beings tolerating each other. This is something that people least do in the inferior world you are incarnated. Believe me: ignoring a wrong behavior is also charity. There is a great charity in keeping quiet while a foolisher one speaks, in playing as deaf while hearing a mockery, and in ignoring a disdainful smile from an arrogant one who supposes to be far above you, but, in the spiritual life, the only real one, is very below you.

Moral charity should not prevent material aid, which must be careful and respect everyone. When repelling an unfortunate one, you are perhaps rejecting a past incarnation dear spirit who is temporarily needy. Here I have happily found some earthly miserable ones whom I had been greatly fortunate to serve. Now, in my turn, I have to beg their help.

Jesus stresses we are all brothers and sisters. Remember this before repelling a leper or a beggar. Goodbye! Think of those who suffer and pray. - Sister Rosalie. (Paris, 1860.)

10. Many people claim incapability to do charity alleging they lack the necessary for living. My friends, there are a thousand ways to practice charity! You can do it by means of thought, words and actions. Through thought by praying for everyone: beloveds, relatives, friends, sufferers, chasers, wrongdoers, enemies, both incarnate and discarnate. Heartfelt prayers powerfully help them to make good resolutions! Through words you can be charitable by giving good advice to your companions, to the desperate, to the embittered ones and to the blasphemers. You can say to them: “I was like you. I suffered and I felt unfortunate. But the Spiritist doctrine has helped me to understand the real purpose of life. Now I am happy.” To the old one who says: “It is useless; I am at the end of my journey and I will die as I have lived”, you can say: “God is love; remember the workers of the last hour.” To the children already corrupted by a noxious environment, and likely to surrender to temptation, you can repeat: “Seek virtue and refuse vice, my children! God is always at your side.” Such words will one day sprout and grow inside their infantile minds. By doing this, you will help them to become citizens instead of criminals. This is also charity.

Someone may say God cannot listen to all of us because we are very numerous. This is a mistake! One who stands upon a mountain top can behold all the landscape below them. This is how the Almighty sees us.²

You are permitted to exert your free-will just like the birds are allowed to fly. However, the All Powerful has placed inside each human spirit a watchful spark called conscience. It provides you only the best advice. Listen to it! Sometimes you decide hearing the evil adviser. So you numb your conscience and it keeps silent for a while. But this poor rejected sense will unavoidably speak aloud when remorse comes. Thus, prefer listening to your conscience now! Ask it your inner questions and you will be consoled by the wise guidance it provides.

Love one another. Follow this Christ's precept! Unite yourselves around this flag and you will find consolation and happiness. - A protective spirit. (Lyon, 1860.)

11. Charity provides you the purest happiness, which nothing can disturb. We cannot describe the beauty of the evolved souls' beneficence. Generosity! Saintly feeling that makes one to gladly undress themself in order to clothe a needy neighbor. What a privilege that making others happy is! No worldly feast compares to the joy we feel when we, as divine representatives, reestablish hope to humble families that know only hardship, that show mortified faces, whose parents, lacking enough bread, hear and feel, as it was a heart-ripping dagger, the steady moan that comes from their children, who innocently cry “I am hungry!...” Oh! How rewarding that bringing the hope back is! Remember your moral duty before your fellow beings! Go meeting misfortune! Go relieving misery, specially the hidden anguish, the most painful one! Go and remind these words of Jesus: “One who dresses a little one clothes me!”

Sublime attitude that embraces all virtues, charity is the working love, the pathway that leads us to serenity. Charity will provide you consolation, strength and a foretaste of the future felicity it builds for you. Divine blessing, charity allowed me the only merry moments I enjoyed during my last incarnation. In charity you should seek heart peace, soul joy and affliction medicine! Before complaining about your life, think of all the miseries around you that ask for relief. Consider the poor children without family, and the old people without even a friendly hand to close their eyes when physical death calls them! There is a lot of good to be done. Never complain! On the contrary, thank God for everything. Offer your sympathy, understanding and material aid to all who suffer. You will reap a gentle happiness still in your present life. And later... only God knows! - Adolf, bishop of Algiers. (Bordeaux, 1861.)

12. Be good and charitable. This is the paradise's key! The maxim “Love one another” is the password to the eternal bliss. Only through service to others a soul evolves. Only by means of charity it finds joy and consolation. Do good. Sustain your siblings! Remove the selfishness plague from your heart and the happiness pathway will open up to you. Charity is so powerful, so aligned to God, that even the wickedest person respects selflessness. Seek pleasure in good deeds and you will advance on the spiritual success pathway. Beautiful historical examples are plentiful but goodwill is still rare.

Jesus stresses the excellence of charity. Why do you neglect his divine words? People should be more interested in the Gospel. However, humans despise this book. They consider it a hollow words compilation, a closed letter. They forget this remarkable moral code. Your ills stem from the voluntary disregard of divine law. Read the Christ's scintillating lessons and meditate upon them!

You the strong: prepare yourselves! You the weak ones: turn your faith and gentleness into your shield! Be more constant and dedicated to spreading the charity doctrine. We have come to boost your virtue. This is why God allows us to manifest. If everyone persisted in doing good, their free-will and God's help would suffice. The Spiritist manifestation only exists to satisfy the hard-hearted ones.

Charity is the foundation that supports the virtue building. Exclusively charity allows the other virtues, a better future hope, the moral guidance. Only charity permits faith, that neat light which makes the altruistic souls to shine.

In all worlds charity is the eternal salvation anchor, the purest emanation which comes directly from God. Charity is the very divine virtue, that the Almighty grants to the creatures. How can one despise this supreme goodness? How can a heart be so perverse as to nullify and expel this holy feeling? What person is so evil as to rebel against this smooth affection called charity?

I feel very glad because I could start a pain relief work during my earthly life. I often see spirits asking to be given an opportunity to continue my task. Joyfully I see them in their pious and divine ministry, practicing the virtue we recommend you. I am immensely happy in noticing that the mission they perform greatly ennobles their souls, and that their work is dear and protected. You, my fellow beings, that are endowed with good and steady will power: unite yourselves, so that you may continue expanding charity. You will find your reward in the very exercise of this virtue. It will provide you all kinds of spiritual happiness, even in the present life. Be united. Love one another according to the Christ's teachings! So be it. - Vincent de Paul. (Paris, 1858.)

13. Charity. This is the shortest path toward God. Follow it, because it will lead you to happiness and peace. This morning we have gone to our usual round. Oh, friends. There is so much misery! There are so many tears! You have to work a lot to dry them all! We tried consoling some poor mothers by whispering in their ears: Courage! Good spirits watch over you; patience! God exists and loves you! You are the Omnipotent's chosen ones; you are not deserted! Then they seemed to hear us and turned their startled eyes in our direction. The look of their bodies, tyrants of the spirit, showed they have been hungry. Although our words calmed their hearts, they brought no peace for their stomachs. We repeated: Courage, courage! Then one poor mother, who was breastfeeding a small child, held the baby up with outstretched arms in the empty space, as she was asking us to protect that small creature who has found insufficient nourishment in those sterile breasts.

Elsewhere we found worthy old men who, unemployed and homeless, have been prey of all hardship suffering. Having never begged, embarrassed of their misery, they are too shy to implore pity from the passers-by. Thus we suggested, from place to place, good inspiration in generous hearts in order to stimulate beneficence in favor of them. There are many wretched people who lack bread and blanket. We do not tell you what to do. This initiative should be yours. If we tell you how to proceed, your deeds will worth less. We just stress that charity invites you to serve your suffering siblings.

But while it asks, it also generously gives. Beneficence is like a gorgeous tree, full of flowers and fruits, that can feed everyone. Go and gather the fruits of this magnificent plant! Your good deeds will replace the fruits you have harvested. Then the tree will be submitted to God, who will reload it, since love is inexhaustible. Practice charity, dear friends, so that it may find you among those who go under its light. Be confident. It will guide you along the salvation path because it is: charity! Carita, martyred in Rome. (Lyon, 1861.)

14. Many people confound charity with almsgiving. As it brings relief, alms is sometimes useful. However, it can also be humiliating. On the other hand, charity can be disguised in many ways and harmonizes giver and recipient. There are several ways to do charity. You can be charitable by forgiving your neighbor's weaknesses and being more tolerant of difference. You can also be charitable by, through a respectful way, leading your adrift neighbors to believe in the divine providence without attacking their faith. You can lovingly bring them to our meetings, so that we may instruct them. This is also charity.

The disinherited of this world will be rewarded by God as long as they withstand their trials without complaint. So, you can help the sufferers to endure. Let us see an example of charity.

A group of all-aged ladies meet frequently. What do they do? They work quickly with their nimble fingers. Their faces are lively and their hearts beat in harmony. We notice they are sisters in God. What is their purpose? They know a severe winter is coming. During the summer many poor mothers, those busy ants, were unable, despite their hard work, to get all the necessary provisions. To make things worse, the most of their goods have been pawned. Anxious, the needy mothers weep as they think of their children undergoing cold and hunger during the chilly season. Oh brave unfortunate women! Be patient! God inspires those volunteers and they are making clothes for your kids. When the slashing cold comes and you are accusing God of injustice, as you use to do when you suffer, someone will appear, sent by the selfless weavers who think of you. Then your complaints will turn into blessings because love, inside the heart of the unhappy, follows closely behind hate.

The menfolk also take part in this society by performing other tasks. From all sides good spirits come to encourage the volunteers. In order to recompense their enthusiasm, we the spirits bring them good customers, who will pay them in blessings, the only currency acceptable in the other world. This invisible wealth will be plentiful for them. - Carita. (Lyon, 1861.)

15. You may say you cannot do charity alleging you lack resources. Notwithstanding, every day you severely judge and damn your neighbors. You deny them forgiveness without thinking if you would appreciate receiving the same treatment. Remember indulgence is also charity. If tolerance and pardon mean all that you can offer, then give them grandly! Regarding material charity, we will tell you a story from the other world.

There were two men whose good deeds had been deposited in two separate bags. When they deceased, God ordered the angels to weigh the two containers. One bag was huge, full of chinking gold. The other sack was small, slender and contained just a few coins. Each man recognized his bag. The first one said: “The heavy sack is mine. I was rich and gave away a great deal.” The other man said: “The light one is mine. I was poor and had almost nothing to give!” But when the bags were placed on the divine scales, what a surprise! The big container became light in weight and the small bag became so heavy that it raised the first sack high into the air! Then God spoke to the rich man: “You indeed gave a lot, but you did it just to show you off, to proudly display your name before the people. Furthermore, in donating you deprived yourself of nothing. Go to the left and be satisfied that the alms you gave will help you a little.” Then the Supreme Judge spoke to the poor man: “You indeed gave just a little, my friend, but each coin you donated meant a deprivation to you. You did not distribute alms. However, you forgave your debtors and refused judging your neighbors. You were tolerant with them and found excuses for their mistakes. And your best deed was having naturally acted this way, without intention to be rewarded. Go to the right-hand side. You will receive your payment.” - A protective spirit. (Lyon, 1861.)

16. You the fortunate; you who have free time: volunteer to aid your hapless neighbors! Use your handwork, or the money left over from your pleasures, to provide clothes for those who shiver in the cold, or to help an unattended mother-to-be to dress her unborn child. Your own children will perhaps miss some lace but you will keep a needy child warm. One who labors for the unhappy works for God!

You poor; you who possess only the necessary: if your heart lovingly drives you to help your less-favored fellow beings, then dedicate them some hours of your time, the greatest wealth you have! Try making to the needy some handicrafts or give them your overtime production! In this way you will be able to assist them too. Your own comfort will perhaps decrease a little bit, but you will shoe the barefooted.

And you, who devote your lives to the religion: continue your fair tasks but take heed that your work, besides beautifying your temple, is actually assisting your siblings in God! The poor are the Christ's dearly beloved ones. Laboring for the needy is glorifying the Universe Ruler. Be you the Providence's hand that feeds the birds of the sky. Change the golden altar ornaments that you make into food and clothes for those who lack them. Do this and your work will be blessed!

All of you who are able to produce: give your talent, inspiration and love! God will bless you! You the scientists and artists respected by the people: keep performing your jobs but also dedicate a share of your competence to do charity! All of you, skillful people! Employ your intelligence to spread the good! Your glory will remain untouched and several sufferings will be avoided.

Everyone can give! No matter your walk of life, there is always something you can share. Part of whatever God had bestowed you is owed to the needy. Mind that you, in the unfortunate's place, would like to receive aid too. By assisting the needy your earthly properties will perhaps become a little less. Nevertheless, both your inner peace and heavenly treasure will grow up very much. In the spiritual motherland you will reap hundredfold the good you have sown on this planet. - John. (Bordeaux, 1861.)

17. Mercy, a charity forerunner, draws you closer to the angels and leads you to God. Allow compassion to drive your heart in favor of the sufferers! Your tears soothe their wounds. What a joy we feel when we manage to rebuild hope and resignation! It is true that this gratification is a little sour, as it springs up alongside misery. However, it provides a serene satisfaction, very different from the empty disappointment that worldly pleasures leave behind. Deeply felt empathy is self-forgetfulness, is devotion for the unhappier. Mercy is love, the highest virtue, which Jesus practices and teaches through the Gospel.

Christian doctrine will be restored to its original purity. When people obey the Christ's guidance, Earth will become happy. Harmony, love and peace will reign.

Empathy keeps you farther from selfishness and pride, and nearer to humility, love and evolution. When you behold the affliction of your neighbors, compassion comes. Then it deeply touches your heart, makes you to extend a helping hand and attracts the purest sympathy back to you. Never choke pity, this heavenly emotion! Never proceed as the selfish man who moves away from the wretched because their misery might disturb his golden existence for a while. Be afraid of remaining indifferent when you can serve! The indifference tranquility is as traitorous as the peace of the Dead Sea waters, which annihilate life.

Compassion never causes the annoyance that the selfish people are afraid of. Indeed, we experience a deep anguish on contact with misfortune. But the lasting gladness we feel when we manage to be useful to the silent sufferers overpays our efforts. Although melancholic, mercy opens doors for love, the first virtue. - Michael. (Bordeaux, 1862.)

18. Love the orphans! It is very sad being alone and abandoned, specially during infancy. God permits the orphan existence in order to allow you to become their parents. One who shelters a forgotten child understands and practices the God's law. Protecting the lone children, guarding them from hunger and cold, educating and teaching them to keep away from vice consist in a divine charity. The little being you aid today may be someone who was very dear to you in a past incarnation. If you could recognize them, your help would turn into duty rather than charity. All sufferers are your siblings! Thus you should assist them. Your charity must be modest, friendly and comforting, so that it might never hurt a feeling nor burn a hand. Many sufferers would refuse the haughty alms which humiliate them if they could, if their humble dwellings were free of need. So, help others with delicacy! Offer them also love, the most precious gift, be it through a kindly word, a hearty gesture or a friendly smile. Remember that being rash or censurer may be similar to turning a dagger inside the injury. Thus be simple. Be sure that when you do good to others you are also helping yourself and your beloved ones. - A familiar spirit. (Paris, 1860.)

19. There are people who, having received ingratitude as repayment for a beneficence, cease doing good to avoid meeting thankless ones again. How can we interpret their attitude?

They are more selfish than charitable because they do good expecting a return. They may also be pride if they take pleasure in the humbleness of the aided person, who are perhaps persuaded to lay some kind of thankfulness tribute before the givers. Oh, friends! Only disinterested beneficence pleases God! Those who do good seeking a reward on Earth will not receive it in the afterlife. However, the Supreme Wisdom appreciates very much those who selflessly assist their neighbors.

Always help your fellow beings, even knowing beforehand they will be ingrate. Love becomes yet worthier when it is repaid with ingratitude. God allows thanklessness to exist in order to test your persistence in the goodness practice.

Beneficence is never lost! Be sure the aid you provide, even if it is momentarily despised, will bring forth good fruits. Charity is a seed of love, and all seeds of love germinate timely. Altruism can warm even the coldest hearts! If those ones that you have helped remain forgetful during current life, be sure they will recall your support after disincarnation. Such remembrance will be a punishment for them. Regretting their ingratitude, they will desire making a reparation. Then the indebted spirits will seek paying their dues in a future life, often dedicating a whole incarnation to the creditor. Thus, by doing good you will, even unsuspectingly, contribute to the moral progress of that spirit. You will also work for yourself because you will earn merit for having selflessly done good, despite your disappointments.

Many ties link your present life to your past existences! A lot of relationships join us one another, aiming at mutual advancement! If you knew them, you would admire still more the goodness and wisdom of God, who allows us to relive to make us to evolve. - A protective guide. (Sens, 1862.)

20. Is it correct practicing beneficence only among people of the same opinion, belief, family, group or party?

No. Sectarian behavior must be trashed because all human beings are siblings in God. A true Christian never checks belief, opinion or nationality before offering help. Jesus tells us to love even our enemies! So, refrain from repelling someone just because they are outsiders. Just help them, without requirement. If they are enemies of spirituality, your aid will motivate them to think more about it, whereas, by repelling them, you will strengthen their opposition. - Saint Louis. (Paris, 1860.)

1 - See The Mediums' Book, second part, items 294 and 295.

2 - An analogy can help us to imagine the divine omnipresence. A computer sometimes looks to be executing just one task. However, the device may actually be running several applications simultaneously, although we cannot realize it. The more powerful and fast the computer is, the more tasks it can run in parallel. In a similar way, God, who is infinitely fast and powerful, can address infinite creatures at the same time. (Versionist's note.)

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Allan Kardec's The Gospel According to Spiritism (2019 shortened version by Cesar Bezerra) - CHAPTER 13. LET YOUR LEFT HAND IGNORE WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND GIVES -
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Do good quietly. - Hidden misfortune. - The widow's coins. - Give without reward expectancy. Invite the poor and the lame. - Instructions from the spirits: Material charity and moral charity. - Beneficence. - Compassion. - The orphans. - Ingratitude-repaid beneficence. - Exclusivist beneficence. Do good quietly 1. Do good in secrecy, away from the public, so that God may reward you. When you give alms do not sound a trumpet, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets to be honored by humans. They have already had their reward. When you give something, let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives. And God, who sees in secrecy, will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-4.) 2. When he stepped down from the mount a great multitude followed him. Then a leper came, worshipped him and said: - Lord, if you will you can make me clean. Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said: - I will. Be you clean. And his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him: - Tell it nobody. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded for a testimony to them. (Matthew 8:1-4.) 3. Faith in future life enables us to properly deal with present existence and motivates us to prioritize our conscience's approval rather than the material reward. People that do good secretly, hiding the giving hand, show they have achieved a great moral progress. But those who prefer the human applause instead of divine assent prove they believe more in themselves than in God. Their actions show they disbelieve the future life, although they might allege the contrary. There are people who give only because they are sure the recipient will shout the beneficence to all sides. Many display generosity publicly but refuse giving a penny in secrecy. This is why Jesus teaches that those who did good loudly have already been rewarded. People who gave something intending to reach the worldly recognition have already paid themselves. God owes them nothing else. They are due only the punishment for their pride. Let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives. This teaching finely portrays the quiet beneficence. However, there is also the fake stealth. There are donors who, knowing beforehand someone else watches them, pretend hiding the giving hand. What a shameful joke of Christ's maxim! They have already received their reward too: they have been seen. This will provide them the human recognition. This is everything they will have. There are givers who charge the acceptors a very expensive moral price. What recompense will such donors deserve? No one! They will be refused even the earthly reward because their names will be cursed. This will be the first punishment for their arrogance. Instead of rising to Heaven, the gold they boastfully donate injures the afflicted hands. No recompense will be due for such aid because it is deplored, and a damned help is a worthless coin. Silent philanthropy is both material and moral charity. It helps in secrecy, without embarrassing the beneficiaries. When the aiders convert alms into work they also promote dignity, since accepting a job is quite different from begging. The true charity delicately disguises beneficence and avoids even a simple appearance which might hurt. Charity finds affectionate words which place the recipient at ease in front of the assister, whereas the prideful donation morally crushes the helped one. Generosity becomes even greater when the giver, inverting the roles, places themself in the acceptor's position when meeting them. This is what is meant by the words Let your left hand ignore what your right hand gives. Hidden misfortune 4. When a tragedy occurs, emotion encourages beneficence to work everywhere. But there is also a lot of invisible misery. There are many who suffer silently. The true generosity knows how to find the hidden misfortune without request. Who is that honorable simply-dressed lady, who is accompanied by a young maid? They enter into a poor house whose dwellers know her, because they respectfully greet her. Where does she go to? She goes up to a humble room, where a mother is surrounded by her small children. When that lady arrives, joy bursts forth upon those thin faces, because they know she has come to soothe their ache. She has brought what they need, as well as gentle and consoling words which allow them to accept her aid without blushing. They are not professional beggars. The father is sick. While he is at the hospital the mother cannot work to provide her children what they need. Thanks to that good woman the poor children will no longer be cold nor hungry. They will go school well-clothed. For the smallest, the mother's breasts which feed them will not go dry. If any family member falls diseased, the benefactress provides them the necessary care. A car awaits her outdoors. From that house she goes to the hospital, in order to comfort the father about his family situation. Her vehicle is a kind of moving store, supplied with the needs of her protégés, that she visits one after the other. She never asks what their religion is nor what their opinions are. She considers all of them her siblings in God. After having finished her round she thinks to herself: I have greatly begun my day! What is her name? Where does she come from? Nobody knows! For those unhappy ones she is a consoling angel. No matter their beliefs, all of them bless her. Several prayers in her favor rise up to the Highest. Why does she use such a simple clothing? Because she wants to avoid insulting their poverty with her luxury. Why does she take her daughter? To teach her how to do beneficence. The young lady also wants being charitable! However, the mother asks her: What can you give, my daughter, while you still have nothing of your own? If I pass you something of mine for you to give, what merit will you have? So, when we visit the sick you will help me to treat them. You can also make useful clothes for the children. In both ways you will be offering something of your own. This is the way which that worthy lady educates her daughter. Is she Spiritist? It does not matter! At home she is a worldly woman as her position requires. People around her ignore the good she quietly does because she only expects approval from her own conscience. However, one day one of her protégés unexpectedly appears at her door, selling graceful handicrafts. When the saleswoman recognizes her supporter, the benefactress asks her to be silent and to tell nobody. Jesus spoke so. The widow's coins 5. Jesus sat down near the temple's treasury and watched the people putting money into it. Many rich did cast in much. Then a poor widow came. She threw into the treasury two small coins of little value. Then Jesus called his disciples and said to them: - Verily I tell you, this poor widow has donated more than all the others because they gave out of their plenty, whereas she, out of her poverty, has given all she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44. - Luke, 21:1-4.) 6. Many people, alleging they lack money for beneficence, self-declare unable to do good. Others promise they will do much charity if they become rich. Such intention is noble and sometimes sincere. However, are all of them free of selfish interest? Would everyone prioritize the needy's interest rather than theirs? Altruistic people think of others before of themselves. So, a concealed stingy thought, perhaps hidden from their own eyes, cancels one's intention merit. Anyway, even wealthless people can do good through their work, strength, intelligence and skills. This is the sacrifice God likes best. Nevertheless, most of people dream of quick and easy enrichment ways. They often seek fanciful whims like buried treasure, lottery, random chance, unexpected inheritance and other reveries. There are still others who ask the spirits' help in order to attain their material interests. Do they understand the sacred goal of Spiritism? Do they realize the mission of the godly spirits that communicate with the incarnate? Probably not! Hence they are often punished by disappointment.¹ The one who is short of material resources but wants to do good should accept their limitation and remind that the scarce widow's donation weighs more, on God's scales, than the plentiful gold of the rich. Of course their charitable hearts would feel much glad if they could vastly assist their siblings. However, can tears be dried only with currency? If we cannot do everything we should, then we should do everything we can! Should we remain idle just because we are short of money? The sincere wish to serve finds a thousand ways to be useful. Look for them and they will appear. If not in one way, then in another. Every healthy person can help someone else. They can offer consolation, lessen both the physical and moral suffering and do something good to their neighbors. Those who lack money can dedicate part of their free time to serve others. This is also the alms of the poor, the widow's donation. Give without reward expectancy. Invite the poor and the lame 7. Jesus spoke to his host: - When you make a dinner or supper, abstain from calling your friends, fellows, relatives or your rich neighbors, because they are able to invite you back and reward you. When you make a feast invite the poor, maimed, lame and blind. Then you will be blessed because they are unable to repay you. And you will be rewarded at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:12-14.) 8. When you make a feast, instead of your dear ones invite the needy and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. These strong figurative words contain a sublime guidance: we should do good to all without return expectation; we should help others only for inner rejoicing. Here, the image of an invitation to a feast means participation in the plenty we enjoy. However, this teaching can be applied in a more literal sense as well. People often have unfortunate friends and relatives. Also follow the Jesus' teaching those who invite their poor familiars, receive them with goodwill and, through a sincere friendliness, hide the generous hand. Although not inviting the beggars, they are quietly doing a charity. INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SPIRITS Material charity and moral charity 9. Love one another. Do to others whatever you would like others doing to you. This guidance contains all moral and all religion. If humankind followed them everyone would be happy. Hate would disappear. Going further, there would be no poverty because the rich's leftover would feed the poor. No helpless woman would drag feeble children anymore in the sad slums where I last incarnated. Think of this if you possess more resources than you need. Do your best to support the less fortunate ones! Give others an unpaid helpful hand and you will meet, when leaving your fleshly body, friendly spirits waiting for you at a happier world entrance. Assist others so that God may assist you! I cannot describe the joy I felt when, on reaching the spiritual world, I met those whom I had been granted an opportunity to serve!... Love all your neighbors as yourself. When you repel a wretched one, you may be rejecting a past life beloved parent, sibling or friend of yours. Imagine thus the painful regret you will feel when you meet them again in the spiritual world! Now let us discuss moral charity. Everyone can practice it because it is free of charge. However, it is sometimes the most challenging one to do. Moral charity means human beings tolerating each other. This is something that people least do in the inferior world you are incarnated. Believe me: ignoring a wrong behavior is also charity. There is a great charity in keeping quiet while a foolisher one speaks, in playing as deaf while hearing a mockery, and in ignoring a disdainful smile from an arrogant one who supposes to be far above you, but, in the spiritual life, the only real one, is very below you. Moral charity should not prevent material aid, which must be careful and respect everyone. When repelling an unfortunate one, you are perhaps rejecting a past incarnation dear spirit who is temporarily needy. Here I have happily found some earthly miserable ones whom I had been greatly fortunate to serve. Now, in my turn, I have to beg their help. Jesus stresses we are all brothers and sisters. Remember this before repelling a leper or a beggar. Goodbye! Think of those who suffer and pray. - Sister Rosalie. (Paris, 1860.) 10. Many people claim incapability to do charity alleging they lack the necessary for living. My friends, there are a thousand ways to practice charity! You can do it by means of thought, words and actions. Through thought by praying for everyone: beloveds, relatives, friends, sufferers, chasers, wrongdoers, enemies, both incarnate and discarnate. Heartfelt prayers powerfully help them to make good resolutions! Through words you can be charitable by giving good advice to your companions, to the desperate, to the embittered ones and to the blasphemers. You can say to them: “I was like you. I suffered and I felt unfortunate. But the Spiritist doctrine has helped me to understand the real purpose of life. Now I am happy.” To the old one who says: “It is useless; I am at the end of my journey and I will die as I have lived”, you can say: “God is love; remember the workers of the last hour.” To the children already corrupted by a noxious environment, and likely to surrender to temptation, you can repeat: “Seek virtue and refuse vice, my children! God is always at your side.” Such words will one day sprout and grow inside their infantile minds. By doing this, you will help them to become citizens instead of criminals. This is also charity. Someone may say God cannot listen to all of us because we are very numerous. This is a mistake! One who stands upon a mountain top can behold all the landscape below them. This is how the Almighty sees us.² You are permitted to exert your free-will just like the birds are allowed to fly. However, the All Powerful has placed inside each human spirit a watchful spark called conscience. It provides you only the best advice. Listen to it! Sometimes you decide hearing the evil adviser. So you numb your conscience and it keeps silent for a while. But this poor rejected sense will unavoidably speak aloud when remorse comes. Thus, prefer listening to your conscience now! Ask it your inner questions and you will be consoled by the wise guidance it provides. Love one another. Follow this Christ's precept! Unite yourselves around this flag and you will find consolation and happiness. - A protective spirit. (Lyon, 1860.) Beneficence 11. Charity provides you the purest happiness, which nothing can disturb. We cannot describe the beauty of the evolved souls' beneficence. Generosity! Saintly feeling that makes one to gladly undress themself in order to clothe a needy neighbor. What a privilege that making others happy is! No worldly feast compares to the joy we feel when we, as divine representatives, reestablish hope to humble families that know only hardship, that show mortified faces, whose parents, lacking enough bread, hear and feel, as it was a heart-ripping dagger, the steady moan that comes from their children, who innocently cry “I am hungry!...” Oh! How rewarding that bringing the hope back is! Remember your moral duty before your fellow beings! Go meeting misfortune! Go relieving misery, specially the hidden anguish, the most painful one! Go and remind these words of Jesus: “One who dresses a little one clothes me!” Sublime attitude that embraces all virtues, charity is the working love, the pathway that leads us to serenity. Charity will provide you consolation, strength and a foretaste of the future felicity it builds for you. Divine blessing, charity allowed me the only merry moments I enjoyed during my last incarnation. In charity you should seek heart peace, soul joy and affliction medicine! Before complaining about your life, think of all the miseries around you that ask for relief. Consider the poor children without family, and the old people without even a friendly hand to close their eyes when physical death calls them! There is a lot of good to be done. Never complain! On the contrary, thank God for everything. Offer your sympathy, understanding and material aid to all who suffer. You will reap a gentle happiness still in your present life. And later... only God knows! - Adolf, bishop of Algiers. (Bordeaux, 1861.) 12. Be good and charitable. This is the paradise's key! The maxim “Love one another” is the password to the eternal bliss. Only through service to others a soul evolves. Only by means of charity it finds joy and consolation. Do good. Sustain your siblings! Remove the selfishness plague from your heart and the happiness pathway will open up to you. Charity is so powerful, so aligned to God, that even the wickedest person respects selflessness. Seek pleasure in good deeds and you will advance on the spiritual success pathway. Beautiful historical examples are plentiful but goodwill is still rare. Jesus stresses the excellence of charity. Why do you neglect his divine words? People should be more interested in the Gospel. However, humans despise this book. They consider it a hollow words compilation, a closed letter. They forget this remarkable moral code. Your ills stem from the voluntary disregard of divine law. Read the Christ's scintillating lessons and meditate upon them! You the strong: prepare yourselves! You the weak ones: turn your faith and gentleness into your shield! Be more constant and dedicated to spreading the charity doctrine. We have come to boost your virtue. This is why God allows us to manifest. If everyone persisted in doing good, their free-will and God's help would suffice. The Spiritist manifestation only exists to satisfy the hard-hearted ones. Charity is the foundation that supports the virtue building. Exclusively charity allows the other virtues, a better future hope, the moral guidance. Only charity permits faith, that neat light which makes the altruistic souls to shine. In all worlds charity is the eternal salvation anchor, the purest emanation which comes directly from God. Charity is the very divine virtue, that the Almighty grants to the creatures. How can one despise this supreme goodness? How can a heart be so perverse as to nullify and expel this holy feeling? What person is so evil as to rebel against this smooth affection called charity? I feel very glad because I could start a pain relief work during my earthly life. I often see spirits asking to be given an opportunity to continue my task. Joyfully I see them in their pious and divine ministry, practicing the virtue we recommend you. I am immensely happy in noticing that the mission they perform greatly ennobles their souls, and that their work is dear and protected. You, my fellow beings, that are endowed with good and steady will power: unite yourselves, so that you may continue expanding charity. You will find your reward in the very exercise of this virtue. It will provide you all kinds of spiritual happiness, even in the present life. Be united. Love one another according to the Christ's teachings! So be it. - Vincent de Paul. (Paris, 1858.) 13. Charity. This is the shortest path toward God. Follow it, because it will lead you to happiness and peace. This morning we have gone to our usual round. Oh, friends. There is so much misery! There are so many tears! You have to work a lot to dry them all! We tried consoling some poor mothers by whispering in their ears: Courage! Good spirits watch over you; patience! God exists and loves you! You are the Omnipotent's chosen ones; you are not deserted! Then they seemed to hear us and turned their startled eyes in our direction. The look of their bodies, tyrants of the spirit, showed they have been hungry. Although our words calmed their hearts, they brought no peace for their stomachs. We repeated: Courage, courage! Then one poor mother, who was breastfeeding a small child, held the baby up with outstretched arms in the empty space, as she was asking us to protect that small creature who has found insufficient nourishment in those sterile breasts. Elsewhere we found worthy old men who, unemployed and homeless, have been prey of all hardship suffering. Having never begged, embarrassed of their misery, they are too shy to implore pity from the passers-by. Thus we suggested, from place to place, good inspiration in generous hearts in order to stimulate beneficence in favor of them. There are many wretched people who lack bread and blanket. We do not tell you what to do. This initiative should be yours. If we tell you how to proceed, your deeds will worth less. We just stress that charity invites you to serve your suffering siblings. But while it asks, it also generously gives. Beneficence is like a gorgeous tree, full of flowers and fruits, that can feed everyone. Go and gather the fruits of this magnificent plant! Your good deeds will replace the fruits you have harvested. Then the tree will be submitted to God, who will reload it, since love is inexhaustible. Practice charity, dear friends, so that it may find you among those who go under its light. Be confident. It will guide you along the salvation path because it is: charity! Carita, martyred in Rome. (Lyon, 1861.) 14. Many people confound charity with almsgiving. As it brings relief, alms is sometimes useful. However, it can also be humiliating. On the other hand, charity can be disguised in many ways and harmonizes giver and recipient. There are several ways to do charity. You can be charitable by forgiving your neighbor's weaknesses and being more tolerant of difference. You can also be charitable by, through a respectful way, leading your adrift neighbors to believe in the divine providence without attacking their faith. You can lovingly bring them to our meetings, so that we may instruct them. This is also charity. The disinherited of this world will be rewarded by God as long as they withstand their trials without complaint. So, you can help the sufferers to endure. Let us see an example of charity. A group of all-aged ladies meet frequently. What do they do? They work quickly with their nimble fingers. Their faces are lively and their hearts beat in harmony. We notice they are sisters in God. What is their purpose? They know a severe winter is coming. During the summer many poor mothers, those busy ants, were unable, despite their hard work, to get all the necessary provisions. To make things worse, the most of their goods have been pawned. Anxious, the needy mothers weep as they think of their children undergoing cold and hunger during the chilly season. Oh brave unfortunate women! Be patient! God inspires those volunteers and they are making clothes for your kids. When the slashing cold comes and you are accusing God of injustice, as you use to do when you suffer, someone will appear, sent by the selfless weavers who think of you. Then your complaints will turn into blessings because love, inside the heart of the unhappy, follows closely behind hate. The menfolk also take part in this society by performing other tasks. From all sides good spirits come to encourage the volunteers. In order to recompense their enthusiasm, we the spirits bring them good customers, who will pay them in blessings, the only currency acceptable in the other world. This invisible wealth will be plentiful for them. - Carita. (Lyon, 1861.) 15. You may say you cannot do charity alleging you lack resources. Notwithstanding, every day you severely judge and damn your neighbors. You deny them forgiveness without thinking if you would appreciate receiving the same treatment. Remember indulgence is also charity. If tolerance and pardon mean all that you can offer, then give them grandly! Regarding material charity, we will tell you a story from the other world. There were two men whose good deeds had been deposited in two separate bags. When they deceased, God ordered the angels to weigh the two containers. One bag was huge, full of chinking gold. The other sack was small, slender and contained just a few coins. Each man recognized his bag. The first one said: “The heavy sack is mine. I was rich and gave away a great deal.” The other man said: “The light one is mine. I was poor and had almost nothing to give!” But when the bags were placed on the divine scales, what a surprise! The big container became light in weight and the small bag became so heavy that it raised the first sack high into the air! Then God spoke to the rich man: “You indeed gave a lot, but you did it just to show you off, to proudly display your name before the people. Furthermore, in donating you deprived yourself of nothing. Go to the left and be satisfied that the alms you gave will help you a little.” Then the Supreme Judge spoke to the poor man: “You indeed gave just a little, my friend, but each coin you donated meant a deprivation to you. You did not distribute alms. However, you forgave your debtors and refused judging your neighbors. You were tolerant with them and found excuses for their mistakes. And your best deed was having naturally acted this way, without intention to be rewarded. Go to the right-hand side. You will receive your payment.” - A protective spirit. (Lyon, 1861.) 16. You the fortunate; you who have free time: volunteer to aid your hapless neighbors! Use your handwork, or the money left over from your pleasures, to provide clothes for those who shiver in the cold, or to help an unattended mother-to-be to dress her unborn child. Your own children will perhaps miss some lace but you will keep a needy child warm. One who labors for the unhappy works for God! You poor; you who possess only the necessary: if your heart lovingly drives you to help your less-favored fellow beings, then dedicate them some hours of your time, the greatest wealth you have! Try making to the needy some handicrafts or give them your overtime production! In this way you will be able to assist them too. Your own comfort will perhaps decrease a little bit, but you will shoe the barefooted. And you, who devote your lives to the religion: continue your fair tasks but take heed that your work, besides beautifying your temple, is actually assisting your siblings in God! The poor are the Christ's dearly beloved ones. Laboring for the needy is glorifying the Universe Ruler. Be you the Providence's hand that feeds the birds of the sky. Change the golden altar ornaments that you make into food and clothes for those who lack them. Do this and your work will be blessed! All of you who are able to produce: give your talent, inspiration and love! God will bless you! You the scientists and artists respected by the people: keep performing your jobs but also dedicate a share of your competence to do charity! All of you, skillful people! Employ your intelligence to spread the good! Your glory will remain untouched and several sufferings will be avoided. Everyone can give! No matter your walk of life, there is always something you can share. Part of whatever God had bestowed you is owed to the needy. Mind that you, in the unfortunate's place, would like to receive aid too. By assisting the needy your earthly properties will perhaps become a little less. Nevertheless, both your inner peace and heavenly treasure will grow up very much. In the spiritual motherland you will reap hundredfold the good you have sown on this planet. - John. (Bordeaux, 1861.) Compassion 17. Mercy, a charity forerunner, draws you closer to the angels and leads you to God. Allow compassion to drive your heart in favor of the sufferers! Your tears soothe their wounds. What a joy we feel when we manage to rebuild hope and resignation! It is true that this gratification is a little sour, as it springs up alongside misery. However, it provides a serene satisfaction, very different from the empty disappointment that worldly pleasures leave behind. Deeply felt empathy is self-forgetfulness, is devotion for the unhappier. Mercy is love, the highest virtue, which Jesus practices and teaches through the Gospel. Christian doctrine will be restored to its original purity. When people obey the Christ's guidance, Earth will become happy. Harmony, love and peace will reign. Empathy keeps you farther from selfishness and pride, and nearer to humility, love and evolution. When you behold the affliction of your neighbors, compassion comes. Then it deeply touches your heart, makes you to extend a helping hand and attracts the purest sympathy back to you. Never choke pity, this heavenly emotion! Never proceed as the selfish man who moves away from the wretched because their misery might disturb his golden existence for a while. Be afraid of remaining indifferent when you can serve! The indifference tranquility is as traitorous as the peace of the Dead Sea waters, which annihilate life. Compassion never causes the annoyance that the selfish people are afraid of. Indeed, we experience a deep anguish on contact with misfortune. But the lasting gladness we feel when we manage to be useful to the silent sufferers overpays our efforts. Although melancholic, mercy opens doors for love, the first virtue. - Michael. (Bordeaux, 1862.) The orphans 18. Love the orphans! It is very sad being alone and abandoned, specially during infancy. God permits the orphan existence in order to allow you to become their parents. One who shelters a forgotten child understands and practices the God's law. Protecting the lone children, guarding them from hunger and cold, educating and teaching them to keep away from vice consist in a divine charity. The little being you aid today may be someone who was very dear to you in a past incarnation. If you could recognize them, your help would turn into duty rather than charity. All sufferers are your siblings! Thus you should assist them. Your charity must be modest, friendly and comforting, so that it might never hurt a feeling nor burn a hand. Many sufferers would refuse the haughty alms which humiliate them if they could, if their humble dwellings were free of need. So, help others with delicacy! Offer them also love, the most precious gift, be it through a kindly word, a hearty gesture or a friendly smile. Remember that being rash or censurer may be similar to turning a dagger inside the injury. Thus be simple. Be sure that when you do good to others you are also helping yourself and your beloved ones. - A familiar spirit. (Paris, 1860.) Ingratitude-repaid beneficence 19. There are people who, having received ingratitude as repayment for a beneficence, cease doing good to avoid meeting thankless ones again. How can we interpret their attitude? They are more selfish than charitable because they do good expecting a return. They may also be pride if they take pleasure in the humbleness of the aided person, who are perhaps persuaded to lay some kind of thankfulness tribute before the givers. Oh, friends! Only disinterested beneficence pleases God! Those who do good seeking a reward on Earth will not receive it in the afterlife. However, the Supreme Wisdom appreciates very much those who selflessly assist their neighbors. Always help your fellow beings, even knowing beforehand they will be ingrate. Love becomes yet worthier when it is repaid with ingratitude. God allows thanklessness to exist in order to test your persistence in the goodness practice. Beneficence is never lost! Be sure the aid you provide, even if it is momentarily despised, will bring forth good fruits. Charity is a seed of love, and all seeds of love germinate timely. Altruism can warm even the coldest hearts! If those ones that you have helped remain forgetful during current life, be sure they will recall your support after disincarnation. Such remembrance will be a punishment for them. Regretting their ingratitude, they will desire making a reparation. Then the indebted spirits will seek paying their dues in a future life, often dedicating a whole incarnation to the creditor. Thus, by doing good you will, even unsuspectingly, contribute to the moral progress of that spirit. You will also work for yourself because you will earn merit for having selflessly done good, despite your disappointments. Many ties link your present life to your past existences! A lot of relationships join us one another, aiming at mutual advancement! If you knew them, you would admire still more the goodness and wisdom of God, who allows us to relive to make us to evolve. - A protective guide. (Sens, 1862.) Exclusivist beneficence 20. Is it correct practicing beneficence only among people of the same opinion, belief, family, group or party? No. Sectarian behavior must be trashed because all human beings are siblings in God. A true Christian never checks belief, opinion or nationality before offering help. Jesus tells us to love even our enemies! So, refrain from repelling someone just because they are outsiders. Just help them, without requirement. If they are enemies of spirituality, your aid will motivate them to think more about it, whereas, by repelling them, you will strengthen their opposition. - Saint Louis. (Paris, 1860.) ------------------------ 1 - See The Mediums' Book, second part, items 294 and 295. 2 - An analogy can help us to imagine the divine omnipresence. A computer sometimes looks to be executing just one task. However, the device may actually be running several applications simultaneously, although we cannot realize it. The more powerful and fast the computer is, the more tasks it can run in parallel. In a similar way, God, who is infinitely fast and powerful, can address infinite creatures at the same time. (Versionist's note.)
Next: Chapter 14 - Honor your father and mother Gospel According to Spiritism Index
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Do to others what you want that others do to you. (Matthew 7:12) You'll know the truth and the truth will make you free. (John 8:32) [Home] [Index] [Contact us] [Download] God is fair and good. Know the Spiritist philosophy and be sure about it. Unshakable faith is only that which can always face reason. (Allan Kardec) R1		A tree is known by its fruits The vine branch