Generoisty

Don’t do the right thing to secure your reputation

It doesn’t matter who sees God sees

Giving disclaimer

Matthew 6:1–4 ESV

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Vs 1 introduces a new section (3 weeks)

Beware (concentrate) your motives for righteousness

Giving

Prayer

Fasting

These sections are in parallel

When you ______

Don’t ________with lousy intent or you will only get earthly rewards

Rather ______ Jesus’ way and get God’s reward

Cancel culture - even business reacting to Russia

Reward - what is our reward, and why is it important?

Why do we do things?

Tithing

Alms/Charity - helping people in need

Good Will

The reward is the idea that lives will be transformed

When you Give

Assumed & Comprehensive (who’s needy?)

Don’t do give like hypocrites, so others see it & get an earthly reward

Don’t be like the hypocrites - Greek actors who put on a mask

Trumpets

It's about the heart

This doesn’t mean never give publically

The reason they did it publically was to secure a reputation, not in order to serve God.

Today we often don’t do things publically to secure a reputation, not in order to serve God.

Same root

How often do we get what we wanted, and it wasn’t what God had for us?

Bless someone so someday they will bless back

Rather do it (quietly) without strings attached and get God’s reward

What does it mean to not let your left hand know what the right is doing?

idiom

“I am going to hit the sack”

“This car is a lemon”

The point = the giver cannot gloat over how good he is

It doesn’t matter who sees God sees

Conclusion

The principle - God will reward us on the basis of our spiritual priorities and actions.

If we live entirely for him and surrender earthly attachments and rewards, our reward will be heavenly and eternal.

Where your treasure is there, your heart will also be.

Gerda Weissman Klein.

Ilse, a childhood friend of mine, once found a raspberry in the camp and carried it in her pocket all day to present to me that night on a leaf. Imagine a world in which your entire possession is one raspberry and you gave it to your friend.

Giving is an act of worship and compassionate concern, not a statement of worth.

Others are always worth more than what we give.