SOLID GIVING: MATURING IN YOUR MOTIVATIONS FOR GIVING

When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. ³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you  (Matthew 6:2-4)

In Jesus' day hypocrites needed people to see what they were giving, simply because it made them feel better about what they gave, so much so they wanted a show.....trumpets blowing and someone literally parading their contribution to the kingdom before others.    But Jesus says....they have their reward already.....this type of giving is rewarded from the throne of God, but rather the praise of men.   Jesus challenges us to be real with our giving in secret....in other words, between you and God.  

A few years back one of my Pastors said, " I honestly don't know what you give, and if you give at all.   To take it a step further that's personal......I don't want to know, but God does care, because if you give, when you give that speaks to your relationship with the Father."  He further went on to say if you don't want to give,  keep your money, the spirit in the room was somewhat liberating because you could tell the tension because of the sermon on titheing and people feeling like, " oh oh....." but the reality is.....your giving beit your offering, your tithe, your time or your talents says a lot about the relationship with the one you are giving to.   This is why there is a difference between giving because you have to vs. because you want to.  One is under compulsion, and the other is because of compassion.   You actual care that GOD asks for a specifice percentage because He has a plan to meet the needs of the surrounding communities, through your giving.    Your heart is so connected to that of the King, that you look for opportunities to bless people.  You pay for the person's order in the drive through, you pay a bill for a family that has fallen on hard times in the church.  You quietly take goods to help keep the food pantry stocked.

It's amazing how when we look around we see people that seem to be living in the blessings of God, and we always wonder " What is it that they are doing.....that I'm not?"    Just maybe they are having some secret moments with the Father, and He is rewarding them openly as He said he would.   There is a song called the GOD IN ME, by Mary Mary that speaks of  people wondering why they are so blessed......and they simply say " what they don't know, is when you go home, and get behind closed doors, man you hit the floor, what they can't see is that you are on your knees........"   Now they are talking about prayer, but this is secret moments with the master...and He is rewarding them before men and women.  Your core motivation, the mature giver gives simply because of their LOVE for the FATHER, and they actually want to please Him in every area of their life, giving included.    Are you maturing in your motivations in your giving, or are you still dropping loose change in the collection plate like you did in Sunday school as tike?   LGLP