Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
These he calls children and little ones and infants and friends, and small ones here in comparison with their greatness to come above. "Do not despise," he says, "one of these little ones; for their angels continually behold the face of my Father who is in the heavens." And elsewhere: "Fear not, little flock; for it has pleased the Father to give you the kingdom" of the heavens. In the same way, of John, the greatest among those born of women, he says that the least in the kingdom of the heavens — that is, his own disciple — is greater. And again: "He who receives a righteous man or a prophet in the name of a righteous man or a prophet shall receive their reward; and he who gives a disciple a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward." This, then, is the only reward that is not lost. And again: "Make friends for yourselves out of the mammon of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles." He declares that every possession which, by nature, a man has acquired for himself as his own and does not put into common use for those in need, is unrighteous; yet from this very unrighteousness it is possible also to perform a righteous and saving deed — to give rest to one who has an eternal tabernacle with the Father.
Observe first that he has not commanded that you be exacted from, nor that you wait to be troubled, but that you yourself seek out those who will fare well and who are worthy to be disciples of the Savior. Fine indeed is the saying of the apostle: "God loves a cheerful giver," one who rejoices in giving and sows not sparingly, so that he may not also reap in that manner — sharing without murmurings and hesitation and grief, which is pure well-doing. But better than this is what is said by the Lord in another place: "Give to everyone who asks you"; for such generosity is truly of God. And this saying surpasses every divine standard — not even to wait to be asked, but to seek out on one's own whoever is worthy to be well treated,
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