Giving and Kingdom Citizens

Introduction: Open your Bible to Matthew 6. Now, before we begin, I want to tell you where we will be going as we work our way through this sixth chapter. Here are the titles of the upcoming messages:

· Giving and Kingdom Citizens – Matthew 6:1-4

· Prayer and Kingdom Citizens – Matthew 6:5-15

· Fasting and Kingdom Citizens – Matthew 6:16-18

· Treasures and Kingdom Citizens – Matthew 6:19-24

· Worry and Kingdom Citizens – Matthew 6:25-34

Can I remind you that both chapter 6 and chapter 7 are still a part of the Sermon on the Mount. So, then, we will walk through the sermon Jesus shared with His disciples. Now, with that information behind us, let’s jump into the teachings of Jesus Christ on GIVING.

I own several Bible’s, and one Bible that I own has a heading above Matthew 6 that reads, How to Give. In my NKJV the heading reads, Do Good to Please God. You see, Matthew 6:1-4 is about charitable deeds, almsgiving, or giving to the poor. Rabbis taught that almsgiving, prayer, and fasting were the three chief acts of Jewish devotion. The problem is that many people gave alms for the wrong reason. As we come to this section of Scripture Jesus Himself is going to teach us the proper way to give to people in need.

I remind us that our righteousness, even in giving, must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees used almsgiving to gain favor with God and the attention of men. They gave out of the wrong motivation. And so do many people today.

Charitable Deeds

Are you a GIVER? Why do you give? Do you give to your local church? Do you give to any Christian ministries? Do you give to the poor? Do you give to charitable organizations? What is your favorite charity? Here are some possible places to invest your money - The Union Gospel Mission, Cup of Grace, and Open Arms.

Kingdom Citizens should be givers and we should give from the right motivation.

I had a friend in the church, Larry Brotzman who used to say, “givers are gainers.” That is such a true statement.

Why do we GIVE? To be seen by men, or to be rewarded by God?

Let’s look at what Jesus taught about giving our charitable deeds.

I. Don’t Give to be seen by men – 6:1

1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

The two words “Take heed” can also be translated in a wide variety of ways. Such as:

· Be careful

· Beware

· Watch out

· Take heed

So, then, Jesus is providing His disciples with a warning. Be very careful how you give and check your motivation for giving.

Next, the words “Charitable deeds” are also translated the following ways:

· King James Version – alms (be compassionate by word or deed).

· English Standard Version - practicing your righteousness.

· New Living Translation – good deeds.

· The Message – trying to be good.

Jesus is warning us about doing our good works, deeds of kindness, or acts of giving to be seen by people. So, then, we discover rather quickly that the motive for doing good is not for public recognition. We are to give to please God alone.

Questions: Do we do our charitable deeds to be seen by men as a philanthropist? Do we do the things we do for others to be recognized by our peers as outstanding Christians in our community? Do we do good things to get our name on a plaque up on a wall? Why do we give?

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Alms may be given publicly, but not for the sake of publicity.” That is a great quote, and one we should take to heart.

Jesus makes it very clear that if we do deeds to be seen by men that we already have all the reward we will ever get. Simply the accolades of other men. However, if you do your deeds without fanfare, and not needing the approval of those around you, you will indeed one day be rewarded by your Father in heaven.

Kingdom Citizens should desire to serve humanity (providing for the needy) because it’s the God thing to do. It’s not for earthly rewards. We know that what we do for God will one day be rewarded in glory. Live for the future reward and not that which tarnish and fades away.

II. Don’t sound a trumpet when you Give – 6:2

2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Therefore – In light of verse 1, Jesus teaches that when we are engaged in doing deeds of kindness, such as giving to the poor that we do not sound a trumpet. We are not to try and get everyone’s eyes on us.

Super Christian Film

In 1980, Gospel Films produced a movie entitled, Super Christian. In one scene Super Christian was attending church, and the time came for the ushers to collect the tithes and offering. Well, Super Christian pulled out his wallet, grabbed a handful of bills, and began count them out loud while he placed them in the offering plate. He had everyone’s eyes on him. This is what it means to sound the trumpet.

Bless me, who gave you this Drink

J. J. Wettstein, the eighteenth-century Swiss New Testament scholar, describes an ancient custom: ‘In the east water is so scarce that sometimes it had to be bought. When a man wanted to do a good act, and to bring blessing on his family, he went to a water-carrier with a good voice, and instructed him: “Give the thirsty a drink.” The water-carrier filled his skin and went to the market place. “O thirsty ones,” he cried, “come to drink the offering.” And the giver stood by him and said, “Bless me, who gave you this drink.”’ That is precisely the kind of thing that Jesus condemns.[1]

Jesus went on to say that this is what the hypocrites did in the synagogues and in the streets. No doubt He is speaking about the Pharisees.

Jon Courson writes, “Originally, there was an area at the side of the temple courtyard called the Chamber of the Secret. People would go there and drop gifts designated for the poor in a large chest called the Trumpet. Later, the poor would come to the Chamber of the Secret and receive gifts from the Trumpet. It was all done very discreetly, with humility and honesty. But as the years went on, the Pharisees decided it wasn’t practical to go all the way to the temple to give alms to the poor. So instead, they tied a small brass or silver trumpet to their belts. Then, whenever they wanted to give to the poor, they stood on a street corner and blew their trumpets. Upon hearing this, the poor people in the area would gather around the generous Pharisee as he distributed his alms with great flourish, while everyone around said, “My! Look how righteous he is!”[2]

The pharisees engaged in alms giving not with pure motives, but with ulterior motives – to be seen by men. They wanted the praise of man. The real motive behind giving ought to be to please God, and not to receive the accolades of man.

Now, the word “hypocrites” comes from the acting world. The world of stage and drama. Actors and actresses would put on masks and pretend to be someone they were not. This is what Jesus says these people were doing who were carrying out their “charitable deeds” in the synagogues and in the streets. They spent their time acting as if they really cared for humanity. They didn’t - it was all show.

Some people do things for others to receive glory from man. They want their five minutes of fame. They want their moment in the spotlight. They want the pat on the back, and the applause of people.

Today’s Culture

By the way, we have a whole culture today that is now desiring the following three things:

1. Fame

2. Praise

3. Wealth

Individuals who have made it big on social media today are called, influencers. They are the YouTubers and TikTok crowd. If you were to ask young people what they want to do when they grow up (it’s no longer doctor, nurse, teacher, fireman, or police officer), they will tell you, “I want to be an influencer.” They want to be recognized by their peers.

Don’t miss what Jesus teaches in this verse. He says, those who must receive the praise of man already have their reward, and they will not receive anything from God.

So far, we have seen how we are not to GIVE. We are not to engage people to be seen by man, nor are we to sound the trumpet when we are showing people compassion. So, is there a way to be engaged with people where you are making an eternal difference? Yes, and Jesus now is going to tell us how its done.

III. Don’t allow your left hand to know what your right hand is doing when you Give – 6:3

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Our charitable activity should be done in such a way that our left hand is not knowing what the right hand is doing. This is a way of saying that what we do for others doesn’t have to receive the recognition of those closet to us. My left hand and my right hand are a part of my body. Here is the point – what we do for those in need, no one else needs to be aware of. Give quickly and without anyone’s attention.

The metaphorical use of the right hand and left hand in this phrase suggests that one can accomplish something without the involvement or knowledge of others, even those who are close or intimately involved in the situation. Essentially, it implies that one can keep their actions or intentions hidden from others, while still achieving their goals.

The Audience of One

Everything we do we are to do for the audience of one – God! We do not play to our peers, the crowd, or to our community. Everything we do, we do in stealth mode. We do it quietly without a parade or fanfare. Without recognition and without anyone else having to be aware of it.

When we GIVE the right way, God will “reward” us. I found it interesting that the word “reward” used here in verse 4, carries with it the idea of repayment, or reimbursement.

In Proverbs 19:17, we read, “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given.”

Yes, God will see to it that we are blessed because we gave not to be seen by man, but to honor God. All that we do (including our giving) is to be done for the glory of God alone (1 Corinthians 10:31).

How else can we give?

IV. Give in Secret – 6:4

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Jesus now teaches us the BEST way to do our charitable deeds. Circle the word “secret”. Kingdom Citizens are to engage those in need in secret. We don’t tell anyone what we are doing. No, we just do it.

A Few Examples

For many years at Christmas a woman in the church gave me three envelopes with $ 100.00 in each envelope. She said to me, ‘You know the people who have needs. Give these envelopes to those in need.” This woman gave in such a way that no one knew she was giving. This is what we call third-party giving. Money was given to a pastor to distribute to those in need.

Sometime ago someone sent a check to the church. They gave $200.00 to the church and asked us to give the additional money to those who had a need within the body at SLBC. We honored their request. They gave unnoticed – in secret. They gave through the Church. This is a great way to give in secret.

Here are some suggested ways to give in secret:

1. Online – anonymously.

2. Cash gifts – leave not paper trail.

3. Donate through a donor designed fund.

Years ago, the Church received monthly gifts through a donor designed fund. We never knew who it was that gave funds to the Church. That’s secret GIVING!

Throughout the Years

Throughout the years I have had people in the church who have come to me quietly and have given gifts to the church anonymously. One lady came and gave $ 20,000 dollars. Another couple came and gave $ 10,000 dollars. A few years ago, a couple gave the church $ 100.000. Once a couple loaned the church $50.000 to purchase property. Another lady wrote a check for $18,000 to purchase the lot across the street from the church for parking. All these people gave without shouting it from the roof top.

GIVERS give silently! Givers do not draw attention to themselves.

People who must announce their gifts have already received their reward. But they will receive nothing from God.

Tony Evans writes, “If you’re playing for the applause of people, you have all you’re going to get.

However, people who GIVE before the audience of one – God. And GIVEin secret, will be rewarded by their Father in heaven.

Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “people who give without fanfare will grow spiritually; God will be glorified; and others will be helped.”

Conclusion: The ideas of not seeking to be seen by others, not sounding a trumpet when giving, not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing, and giving in secret are all based on the principle of humility. The act of giving should not be done for personal gain or recognition, but rather out of a genuine desire to help others. By keeping our giving private and away from the public eye, we can avoid the temptation of seeking praise or approval for our actions. Ultimately, true generosity stems from a selfless heart and a willingness to give without any expectation of reward or recognition.

Five Steps in GIVING

1. Be ready to GIVE today.

2. Don’t GIVE to be seen by others.

3. Don’t toot your own horn when you GIVE.

4. GIVE quickly and spontaneously.

5. GIVE in secret.

I want to close with two verses from 1 Timothy. We read in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 the following words of encouragement about GIVING:

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

[1]Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of Matthew (Third Ed., p. 217). Saint Andrew Press. [2]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (p. 31). Thomas Nelson.