Why should I give a bowl full of rice to a monk if there is no rebirth? If there is no rebirth, what is the response for a layman asking as below?

Oh, monk, I have been feeding you for ten years and I was told that my good deeds could secure me a better fortune on my re-birth, and that I will be paid a hundred or even a thousand times more. I was told that this deed of mine could even secure me a place among the Devas. But now I hear you say in secret amongs you that there is no re-birth, so tell me why should I give you this bowl of rice if there is no reward for me?

I feed my son too for ten years, but he gives me delight and I also know that he is going to support me when I'm aged and weak from feeding you and him. But you, you say that you will be extinguished like fire and be here and nowhere, so why should I feed you?

Ooh, is it because of my compassion that I feed you? But if so where is your compassion when your aim is to delight in the Jhanas and at last be extinguished leaving me and my son at lose? Tell me why I shouldn’t call you a hypocrite?
Buddhism is not an obligatory religion but a religion of voluntary individual participation. There is no obligation to feed monks for non-Buddhists who have not gained appreciation and thus gratitude towards Buddhism.

Monks have carried the teachings over the centuries &amp; established places for dedicated practice. Therefore, grateful Buddhists feeds monks who they have personal faith in &amp; respect for. For example, I once expelled a monk from my home &amp; advised him he was not welcome for alms, because I had no faith in that monk. 

In short, non-Buddhists or non-faithful have no obligation to feed monks.  

Also, Buddhism states monks should be easy to look after &amp; not cause hardship to supporters. In other words, if your family will be deprived due to feeding a monk, Buddhism does not expect you to feed a monk. 


  Dhammapada 49. As a bee gathers honey from the flower without injuring its color or fragrance, even so the sage goes on his
  alms-round in the village.