It is up to us to plant; everything else comes from God

"What is the true meaning of the word charity, as Jesus understood it? Benevolence for all, indulgence for the imperfections of others, forgiveness of offenses." (The Spirits’ Book, item 886)

It is interesting to note that Jesus does not consider essential any form of beneficence in the understanding of charity. Beneficence will only be charity if it is moved by love, and it will come to be considered material charity.

Allan Kardec, in chapter XIII, items 5 and 6, of The Gospel according to Spiritism, weaves considerations about the widow's symbol, a theme always remembered by speakers and scholar spirits when it comes to the practice of material charity.

"The desire of some to possess wealth in order to do good is only disinterested when it is not intended to give themselves good before doing it to others. In another part of the text, Kardec refers to disinterested intention as that which is exempt from any personal idea." (Ivomar Schüler da Costa, author of the Special "Charity and the relation between intentions and resources", published in this edition)

The most characteristic sign of imperfection is personal interest (The Spirits’ Book, item 895), which manifests itself when man first seeks his interests to the detriment of the interests of others. This does not mean that he does not have moral qualities, but rather that they are eclipsed when self-interest is attained.

The term "conflict of interest" clearly shows the dynamics of personal interests. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and that the Jews who orchestrated his trial were acting out of envy. Pilate then came into conflict with himself. There was, on one side, the intention of showing the innocence of the Nazarene, even saying that he saw no harm in that man. However, it was necessary, he thought, to yield to the Jews to maintain order in harmony with both parties. Then, throwing all the blame on the Jews, he preferred to wash his hands and gave Jesus to his executioners and, consequently, to death.

"The person desiring to do good but without the resources to do so, and placing the good of the other before his own good, causes the charity to reach its highest point when it seeks and finds resources in itself, In its capacity, because the sublimated point of charity in this case would be to seek it in its work, by the use of its forces, its intelligence, its talents, the resources that it lacks to carry out its generous purposes.” (Schüler da Costa, in the cited article)

Good will. This manifestation is always seconded by the Spirits of the Lord who base their action on faithful individuals, animated by the will to do good, or simply to act with correction. It does not matter that they act anonymously. Good works do not need evidence to spread good. It is enough that we offer our heart and our potential to the benefit of the less favored, both material goods and moral garrison.

It is the little things, the little acts, the willingness to serve, which tell news about our faith and our experience. All virtuous baggage begins in the will to serve, in the good will.

We must realize that every gift, every good, comes from God. Our work is to sow ... good deeds, good words, noble intentions. But God makes the plant grow, a fact that the Apostle Paul made a point of emphasizing in a well-known letter to the Christians of Corinth, in which, referring to the work of evangelization, he declared: "I planted, Apollos watered, but growth came God's". (1 Corinthians 3: 6).