Giving to the Needy - Matthew 6:1-4
Giving to the Needy
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Reflection: Matthew Henry, New Testament commentator, says this about the above passage,"As we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart-sins, heart-adultery, and heart-murder, so likewise in maintaining and keeping up heart-religion, doing what we do from an inward, vital principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be applauded of men; that is, we must watch against hypocrisy, which was the leaven of the Pharisees, as well as against their doctrine."
Jesus is going to affirm three vital disciplines for his followers in chapter 6: giving, praying and fasting. But first he offers these caveats regarding our practice of them. Today, he starts with giving. Giving to those in need is a basic spiritual discipline that curbs pride and greed, and shows the world God's love for them. It is part of our light shining in the world as we care for those outside of the church and within our circle of influence. Many times caring foe others at their point of need can open a door for sharing the Good News, as we are in fact already doing in our deeds.
But what to avoid? Because our flesh is so hungry for affirmation, adulation and applause, our tendency will be to broadcast what we are doing to others. Or, boast about all the good things we are doing. What is the antidote to this? Doing stuff for people in what they actually need (not what you think they need) and then keeping secret about it. Some have termed this random acts of kindness, or giving in secret. What ever you call it, it works to take the focus off of us and our natural vanity, and purifies our motives for doing things for others. You will find a deeper sense of joy by knowing Your Heavenly Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you. Try it you'll like it!
Jesus, thank you for the opportunities you give us to give back out of the great store of treasures you have given us. Help us to improve in the discipline of giving in secret knowing that our Heavenly Father sees all of this and will reward us in His own way and own time according to His good pleasure. Amen.
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Reflection: Matthew Henry, New Testament commentator, says this about the above passage,"As we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart-sins, heart-adultery, and heart-murder, so likewise in maintaining and keeping up heart-religion, doing what we do from an inward, vital principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be applauded of men; that is, we must watch against hypocrisy, which was the leaven of the Pharisees, as well as against their doctrine."
Jesus is going to affirm three vital disciplines for his followers in chapter 6: giving, praying and fasting. But first he offers these caveats regarding our practice of them. Today, he starts with giving. Giving to those in need is a basic spiritual discipline that curbs pride and greed, and shows the world God's love for them. It is part of our light shining in the world as we care for those outside of the church and within our circle of influence. Many times caring foe others at their point of need can open a door for sharing the Good News, as we are in fact already doing in our deeds.
But what to avoid? Because our flesh is so hungry for affirmation, adulation and applause, our tendency will be to broadcast what we are doing to others. Or, boast about all the good things we are doing. What is the antidote to this? Doing stuff for people in what they actually need (not what you think they need) and then keeping secret about it. Some have termed this random acts of kindness, or giving in secret. What ever you call it, it works to take the focus off of us and our natural vanity, and purifies our motives for doing things for others. You will find a deeper sense of joy by knowing Your Heavenly Father sees what is done in secret and will reward you. Try it you'll like it!
Jesus, thank you for the opportunities you give us to give back out of the great store of treasures you have given us. Help us to improve in the discipline of giving in secret knowing that our Heavenly Father sees all of this and will reward us in His own way and own time according to His good pleasure. Amen.
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