St. Chrysostom on Giving Alms

"He that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." (Rom 12:8)

For it is not enough to show mercy, but it behooves us to
do it with a largeness and an ungrudging spirit, or
rather not with an ungrudging, but even with a cheerful and rejoicing
one, for not grudging does not amount to rejoicing. And this same
point, when he is writing to the Corinthians also, he insisted very
strongly upon. For to rouse them to such largeness he said, "He that
soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor. ix. 6.) But to correct
their temper he added, "Not grudgingly or of necessity." (ib. 7.) For
both the shower of mercy ought to have, both ungrudgingness and
pleasure. And why dost thou bemoan thyself of giving alms? (Aristot.
Eth. N. ii. 3 and iv. 1.) Why dost thou grieve at showing mercy, and
lose the advantage of the good deed? For if thou grievest thou dost not
do mercy, but art cruel and inhuman. For if thou grievest, how shalt
thou be able to raise up him that is in sorrow? For it is much if he
suspects no ill, even, when thou art giving with joyfulness. For since
nothing seems to men such a disgrace as to be receiving from others,
unless by an exceedingly cheerful look thou removest the suspicion, and
showest that thou art receiving rather than giving, thou wilt even cast
down the receiver rather than raise him up. This is why he says, "He
that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." For who that is receiving a
kingdom, is of sad countenance? Who that is receiving pardon for his
sins continueth of dejected look? Mind not then the expenditure of the
money; but the increase that comes of that expenditure. For if he that
soweth rejoiceth though sowing with uncertainty of return, much more
should he do so that farms the Heaven. For in this way, even though
thou give but little, thou wilt be giving much; even as how much soever
thou givest with a sad countenance, thou wilt have made thy much a
little. Thus the widow outweighed many talents by the two mites, for
her spirit was large. And how is it possible, it may be said, for one
that dwells with poverty in the extreme, and empties forth his all, to
do this with a ready mind? Ask the widow, and thou wilt hear the way,
and wilt know that it is not poverty [1536] that makes narrow
circumstances, but the temper of a man that effects both this and its
opposite. For it is possible even in poverty to be munificent
(megalopsuchon), and in riches to be niggardly. Hence in giving he
looks for simplicity, and in showing mercy for cheerfulness, and in
patronizing for diligence. For it is not with money only that he wishes
us to render every assistance to those in want, but both with words,
and deeds, and in person, and in every other way. And after mentioning
the chief kind of aiding (prostasian), that which lies in teaching,
namely, and that of exhorting (for this is a more necessary kind, in
that it nurtures the soul), he proceeds to that by way of money, and
all other means; then to show how these may be practised aright, he
bringeth in the mother of them, love.
(Homily 21 on Romans)