Moses Ben Maimon is acclaimed as one of the greatest Jewish Rabbis, philosophers, physicians, and theologians. He lived in the 12th century. He listed eight levels of practicing giving or charity, which are worth reading.
1. Gives but with bad grace or giving grudgingly. God loves a cheerful giver, not those who give hesitantly, reluctantly or with ill will. (II Corinthians 9:7)
2. Gives cheerfully, but not enough. The person has the capacity to give adequately but restrains himself.
3. Gives enough but only after being asked. The receiver should ask, showing humility and give respect, regard, and thankfulness to the giver. The ego of the person needs a massage of flattery.
4. Gives appropriately without being asked. A shepherd knows the needs of the sheep, the appropriate amount of food and water, and provides before being asked. That needs God’s wisdom and discernment.
5. Gives without knowing who the beneficiary is, but the recipient knows the identity of the giver. Such people donate to organizations who care for orphans or poor children. The child may know the donor, but the donor may not know the child, yet give such children.
6. The giver knows the identity of the beneficiary but gives without the beneficiary knowing who is helping him. The giver chooses to be anonymous, giving glory to God.
7. Gives without knowing the beneficiary and without the beneficiary knowing him. Neither of them knows the other. The Lord Jesus Christ taught his disciples to give in a metaphor. What the right hand gives, the left hand should not know. (Matthew 6:3) That means giving in humility, discreetly, secretly, and without any recognition.
8. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. There is a common saying: “Do not give a poor fish but teach him to catch fish.” Then the poor are not dependent on someone who could be generous, could become self-reliant, live with dignity, and even help others.
Christian giving is cheerful, sacrificial, loving, humble, generous, grateful, compassionate, and even beyond capacity, like the Macedonian church. (II Corinthians 8:1-13)
How generously and gratefully do I give for the Lord, and for the underprivileged?