CORNELIUS AND HIS ALMS (ACTS 10:1-8)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Cornelius and his alms. Cornelius was an officer in charge of a hundred soldiers in the ancient Roman Army. In our modern times, he would have been in the rank of a captain or a Major. Alms are usually clothing, food, or money that is given to poor people. People often give alms as a form of religious duty. Luke tells us that Cornelius “and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God” (Acts 10:2-4)

Cornelius and his family were an example of people who were religious yet had no personal relationship with Jesus and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. There is a difference between a religious person and a Christian. A religious person is anyone who acknowledge the existence of God or gods in the universe, However, a Christian is one who does not only acknowledges that there is God but believes that God came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ and demonstrated His love for the world through His sacrificial death and unconditional love on the cross therefore anyone who believes in Him and repents shall be saved. This fact is summarised in John 3:16. Being religious can draw one closer to God thereby discovering God’s love and will through Jesus Christ but being religious in itself cannot lead us to salvation. God is love therefore anyone who demonstrates love through giving to the needy causes God to turn to him or her or remember him or her. The religiosity of Cornelius drew him closer to God through his almsgiving to the poor. It was for this reason, The angel told Cornelius “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:4). In other words, Cornelius, received a message from God by dialling His short code of generosity or alms-giving. Proverb 19:17 reminds us that “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. God acknowledged Cornelius’ generosity therefore He remembered Cornelius and his household. God through His unconditional love, granted Cornelius and his household the gift of salvation through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit when Peter was invited to preach in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10:24-48. Beloved in the Lord, giving alms by itself cannot guarantee us salvation but giving alms or being generous through our fear of God may cause God to remember us and turn to us there by offering us the opportunity to be saved.

Dear friend in Christ, our fear and love for God must lead us or compel us to love others just as God has loved us. We must make giving a part of our lives, for giving moves God into action in our lives. We particularly attract God’s generosity into our lives when we become givers more than receivers. It is for this reason Jesus admonished us to “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.” (Luke 6:38). To believers, giving alms is not only an act of generosity but part of our faith. We love and help others because God first loved and saved us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not miss the opportunity to give alms or be generous to the poor or needy for it touches the heart of God and moves the heart of God to remember us and our needs. Paul admonishes us that “In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35). We do not need to be fabulously rich before we begin to give alms to the needy or poor, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) Let us continue to the best of our ability to be generous by giving alms to the poor or needy “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:7) Shalom.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, bless us immeasurably and help us to be givers more than receivers. Amen.