Giving Secretively to the Needy
Giving to the needy is the right move for a follower of Jesus, but we must check our motives. To give in a way that makes people aware of our good deeds actually robs us of our heavenly reward. May we give in a way that our left hand doesn’t know what our right hand is doing.
Pastor Nate also explained the apparent contradiction between Matthew 5:16 and Matthew 6:1-4. He explained the lifestyle of people when this was written, and their traditions about helping others. There are three Spiritual Disciplines we can learn from today’s lesson: Humility – to recognize that God deserves the honor; Silence and solitude – to find time away for today’s busy lifestyle to listen and hear from God; and Secrecy – when we allow God to know when our deeds will be known.
Four questions to consider: 1 – Are we following Jesus’ example to give to those who are in need and who can give us nothing in return? 2 – Could we not share with others the “good deeds” we do to help others? 3 – Are we “blowing our own horn” to be noticed when we give or do things for the needy? 4 – Can we do or give anonymously?
Scriptures referenced: Matthew 6:1-4, Matthew 5:16, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 19:17, Proverbs 28:27, Philippians 2.
