Generosity
And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity, and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. And if there is among them any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food.
From the Apology of Aristides, an philosopher of Athens, writing to the Roman Emperor Hadrian about the early Christians. 2nd Century A.D.
- Real generosity remembers the source of generosity.
- Real generosity recognises the signs of generosity.
- Real generosity releases the stuff of generosity.