A teaching of Jesus' during The Sermon on the Mount
Jesus tells us to not make a big show of our charity as you will not be rewarded, be charitable in private; it will show in your heart and God will see.
There's a line in a song by Radiohead: "Charity Standing Orders" that causes me some trouble. By giving to charity via your bank account you are not making a show of it - a good thing in Jesus' words. But the point that is being made is that it's very easy to give via the bank. I wonder if charity's worth is based on the effort of the giver? I would like to think not - while tending an old lady's garden will be considered "better", giving money to a charity will still have a good effect.