One day the Roman Governor, T. Annius Rums, asked Rabbi Akiba: ” If your God loves the poor among the Hebrews, why does He not support them? ” ” Because God desires to give the rich an opportunity of doing- good,”was the Rabbi’s reply. “How do you know,” Rufus rejoined, ” that this virtue of charity pleases God, since no master can be pleased, if a person aids a slave, whom he has seen fit to deprive of food and clothing?
” Even so,” said Akiba; ” but if the king, for some offence, had deprived his son of food and drink, and a person had prevented the prince from dying of hunger, would the king be wroth with that person? Certainly not, neither will God be displeased with those who dispense charity to His children, even to the fallen and the sinful.”