One who does some act of kindness with his fellow receives reward not only for that deed but for all the effects that were generated by that one, original deed. For example, if a person did an act of kindness with someone who was physically weak and as a result of the money that the person gave him the man’s health improved, then the reward is not calculated for just the few coins he gave but for having literally brought the man back to life. This, in fact, is how our Sages interpreted the verse, One who is gracious to the poor has lent to Hashem, and He will pay him his reward (Mishlei 19:17) – so said the Holy One: If the soul of the poor person was stirred to leave because of the hunger, and you gave him sustenance and thereby revived the person, I will give you back a life for a life; if tomorrow your son or daughter become ill or are about to die, I will remember the mitzvah you did for the poor person, and I will save them from death.
