MORE THOUGHTS ON GIVING
Matthew 6:2-4

Friends, in our previous study we came to understand that Jesus desires that we give from a heart fully surrendered to Him.  But Jesus also desires that giving be done with the proper motive.  We are not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.

In my years of serving the Lord, I have often asked myself and others as to the reasons for giving to the work of the Lord.  One common answer is that of a hope of obtaining favor with God.  We might call this the bargaining approach.  “God, if I give to You, then You will do something for me.”  We try to purchase God’s favor.  But, can we ever purchase anything from God?  Absolutely not!  Recall these words of the Apostle Paul concerning salvation, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8, 9). 

A second reason for giving is to gain attention, to derive human approval for what we do, to gain the applause of men.  But, should we live for the praise of men?  Absolutely not!  Peter wrote these words:  for all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls off  (1 Peter 1:24).

A third reason for giving sadly I must confess has been used by me on too many occasions.  It is to secretly congratulate myself on what I have given and to say, “Well, Max, you have done your part.  If everyone else will do their share, then everything will be okay.”  What a wrongful attitude!  Because of all that Jesus Christ has done for me, I should never be satisfied with what I return unto Him.  I should, instead, ask myself what more I can do for Him.

Friends, our giving to the Lord should be to only seek the approval of God.  Let us not be like Ananias and Sapphira who gave for the applause of the people but paid the great penalty for their hypcrisy.  Oh to be like the widow who gave all she had to the Lord.

Giving must not only be done with the proper motivation, it is also not to be dependent upon how much we have.  Our usual attitude in giving follows one of two lines of thought:  One, whatever is left I will give to God; or two, How can I possibly make it on what’s left.  Friends, we are simply told to give as God has prospered us.  There is no magical formula to determine the proper amount.  It is merely between you and the Lord.  But, in my walk with the Lord, I have found that I cannot out give the Lord.  As someone once told me, “I shovel to God with a little shovel, and He shovels back to me with a big shovel.”  I kind of like that, don’t you? 

Father, Thank You for Your reminders of how we are to approach You with our giving.  May we bring our offerings with a generous and grateful heart, praising You for all that You have done for us.  May our giving truly be a joyous part of our worship.  We pray this in Christ’s name.  Amen.

 

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