The New Covenant - Giving

Introduction

Matthew 6:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

In Matthew 6, Jesus presents models for giving, prayer, fasting, money, and trust.

In these verses, Jesus turns from the Pharisees’ teachings to looking at their hypocritical actions.

Body

Their giving:

That we would be a people who freely gave is assumed in these verses.

The giving of alms is considered here a great duty. A duty which we all must abound in, according to our ability.

In the Jewish culture, the giving of alms was equated with righteousness.

The Poor man’s box (the box the alms went into) was called the “box of righteousness”.

Righteousness is not a matter between two people, or between us and others, but between a person and God.

If we were to receive our reward from others, then we should demonstrate our giving in front of others.

The focus is on the external act of giving, not on ministering to needs, or in pleasing God.

The reward is one which serves your own pride and arrogance. Not the will of God.

If we are to receive reward from God however, then we should demonstrate our giving in front of God, and not man.

Here the focus is on the internal qualities of the heart (selflessness, generosity, love) and in meeting the needs of others even if they never know it was you who gave to them.

Here the reward comes from God and not from man.

The hypocrite’s reward is temporal, self-serving, and utterly worthless currency in the kingdom of God.

The generous man’s reward is eternal, God-serving, and of infinite worth in God’s kingdom.

About 15% of everything Jesus says and teaches about has to do with money. Why?

We always try to separate spirituality and money, but God sees them as inseparable!

How we treat money is a good indicator of our relationship with God.

How we treat money is a good indicator of our own level of spiritual maturity.

Luke 3 - the people are listening to John the Baptist preach. They asked him what they need to do to demonstrate the fruits of repentance. His answer is very interesting:

In verse 11, he tells them to share clothes and food with the poor.

In verse 13, he tells the tax collectors they shouldn’t take more money than is right.

In verse 14, he tells the soldiers to be content with their wages and to not use their position to threaten and steal from others.

No one asked about money or finances! They were asking him about demonstrating spiritual conversion. Repentance! But John gives answers relating to money and finances as indicators of true repentance.

Luke 19:8–9 KJV 1900

8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Jesus Himself gives testimony to the fact that our attitude toward money is a great indicator of repentance.

Matthew 6:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus isn’t saying that riches might be taken from us, but that they always will be taken from us.

Inflation

Market fluctuations

Accidents and natural occurences

National and world events

Taxes, robbery, theft

These all serve to undermine the value of our wealth and teach us we ought not rely in them.

The story of Confederate money vs. U.S. money

You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.

Key points

God owns everything. I’m simply His money manager.

My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

Heaven, not earth, is my home.

I should live for eternity, not for my life on earth.

Giving is the only antidote for materialism.

God prospers me, not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.

Malachi 3:8–10 KJV 1900

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Tithes - 10% of our gross income.

Offerings - Anything in addition.

Conclusion

Our attitude toward money is extremely important. How we handle the money God has entrusted us with is extremely important.

It demonstrates very clearly the condition of our heart.

It demonstrates very powerfully our relationship with God.