Selfless giving is required of Christians
When I compare fund raising spectacles or events against Matthew 6:1-4, I wonder how much value they have as far as God is concerned.
On one hand, an event is paid for by someone with lots of money who intends to raise even more money for the cause the event is meant to support. On the surface it seems like a great way to make one’s money work even harder than it would if it had been given outright.
One the other hand, Matthew 6:1-4 says not to let attention be drawn to our giving.
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.
Let me just throw out a few fast points about giving in no particular order:
- We never see in the Bible where the source of giving or sacrificing came from anywhere other than personal possessions.
- We do see where God has consistently expected people to be very generous.
- The Bible teaches a balance of secrecy and letting our light shine.
- Matthew 6:2 uses the word “when” not “if” regarding giving.
From what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:1-4, the reward for those big showy charity events is self-contained. God doesn’t acknowledge them because of the pure self-serving nature of them.
Selfless giving is a requirement of Christianity. Liberal giving builds up credit in ways we’ll never fully grasp during this lifetime.
What can you do to improve your giving this year?
January 7, 2014
Comments Off on How to Give Better