Matthew 6:1-4
The term "hypocrites" as used here, describes people who do good acts for appearances only - not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are hollow. These empty acts are their only reward, but God will reward those who are sincere in their faith.
When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, he is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do
something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love. Why do you give?
something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love. Why do you give?
It's easier to do what's right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity, prayer, and fasting. Those acts should not be self-centered, but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. The reward God promises is not material, and it is never given to those who seek it. Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, " Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?"
Jesus' words challenge a lot of what goes on today in fund-raising and charitable causes. As any fund-raiser knows, one of the biggest motivations for people who give large gifts is the prestige that results.
Jesus questioned that spirit of giving, however. He detested people who made a great show of presenting their gifts in the temple and elsewhere as if they were generous and upright, but behind the scenes practiced the worst sorts of greed and immorality. He was not attacking giving, but hypocrisy.
How can we be sure that we are giving with the right motives? One way is to give anonymously. That way, our gifts will affect no one's opinion of us one way or the other. The matter will stay between us and God- and He can evaluate our motives.
SOURCES: Life Application Study Bible and The Word in Life Study Bible
Jesus' words challenge a lot of what goes on today in fund-raising and charitable causes. As any fund-raiser knows, one of the biggest motivations for people who give large gifts is the prestige that results.
Jesus questioned that spirit of giving, however. He detested people who made a great show of presenting their gifts in the temple and elsewhere as if they were generous and upright, but behind the scenes practiced the worst sorts of greed and immorality. He was not attacking giving, but hypocrisy.
How can we be sure that we are giving with the right motives? One way is to give anonymously. That way, our gifts will affect no one's opinion of us one way or the other. The matter will stay between us and God- and He can evaluate our motives.
SOURCES: Life Application Study Bible and The Word in Life Study Bible
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