I am posting the same in introduction and conclusion so that you will be mislead by the content of this post, which is, charity to an unbeliever or a secular organization is not the same as giving to God but that does not nullify the compassion required towards everyone.
Introduction
Exod 23:5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.
Luke 14:5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”
We are to have compassion or mercy towards a suffering unbeliever. If God cares about a donkey, surely He cares about a suffering unbeliever and we must not harden our hearts. However, giving charity or helping an unbeliever is not the same as giving to God. Charity or helping an unbeliever in something is very different from having compassion and being merciful to someone suffering. A suffering person, either believer or unbeliever must be attended immediately, even if it takes to give charity or lending help.
Deception of Giving to God
One of the biggest deceptions in modern days is about charity to unbelievers thinking that they are doing it for God. Scripture verses are often quoted to justify charity even to unbelievers referring to as doing it to God is:
Matt 25:40 “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.’
Matt 25:45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do [it] to one of the least of these, you did not do [it] to Me.’
Notice that both the sheep and goats are within the church and knew about Christ. Further more, Christ refers as “My brethren”. Who is Christ’s brethren?
Matt 12:50 “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Hence, least of My brethren refers to those who do the will of the Father in heaven and not to unbelievers.
Christ not in unbelievers. How can someone give something to a needy that s/he is giving to Christ when that needy person rejects or never knew Christ?
Matt 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Prov 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
Christ never knew the lawless. Christ also considers only His people as Himself because His people are His body.
This does not mean we mustn’t or shouldn’t help an unbeliever who is needy. What Christians must know is that, it is not giving to God. If Christ is going to say to some unbeliever that He never knew him/her, how can a Christian believer convince Christ about a charitable work that s/he did to someone Christ never knew?
Misquoted verses regarding love your enemies used for charity and giving to God.
Matt 5:42-44 “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you
Luke 6:34-35 “And if you lend [to those] from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Firstly, the verses do not represent any charity but rather being kind and loving to an unthankful and evil people who persecute us and not about the needy. Secondly, notice the word ‘lend’ and ‘who wants to borrow’ in the verses given for extra clarity by the Holy Spirit, showing these have nothing to do with charity or giving to God.
Giving to an unbeliever is not giving to God for God doesn’t dwell on an unbeliever. Therefore, let us satisfy Christ’s hunger, thirst, take Him in, clothe Him, visit Him in sickbed and prison, by doing all these to a fellow believer.
Conclusion
Exod 23:5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.
Luke 14:5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?”
We are to satisfy Christ’s hunger, thirst, take Him in, clothe Him, visit Him in sickbed and prison, by doing all these to a fellow believer. This does not mean we are not to have compassion or mercy towards a suffering unbeliever. If God cares about a donkey, surely He cares about a suffering unbeliever and we must not harden our hearts. However, giving charity or helping an unbeliever is not the same as giving to God. Charity or helping an unbeliever in something is very different from having compassion and being merciful to someone suffering.
Hos 6:6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
A suffering person, either believer or unbeliever must be attended immediately, even if it takes to give charity or lending help.
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