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Matthew -
The Kingdom of Jesus

A Devotional Study in Matthew

How-tos for Givers

Matthew 6:1-4

The top how-tos for Givers are summed up by Jesus in these four verses.

First, we are not to show off our acts of righteousness, says Jesus in His sermon on the mountainside. If we aim to impress others with our good works, we have all the reward we're going to get, for God the Father cancels the one He had in mind for us.

Jesus gives an example. If you are giving to the needy, don't announce it to the public with trumpets. as the hypocrites do. They want to be recognized and honoured for their "giving."

Instead, Jesus says, when we do our giving to the needy, for instance, our alternate hand to our giving hand should not be aware of it.

I have trouble picturing this. My hands do most things together. There are times I multi-task and have each hand doing a slightly different job, (my supervisor insisted I learn that when I was a telephone operator), but they are so close that it would be a great sleight of hand trick for one hand to do something without the other hand being aware of it. Yet Jesus says that our giving should be so private that not all parts of our lives would be aware of it.

What of anonymous gifts to others; are they always the best way to give? I've received some like that and it forces one to praise God alone for the gift, but the Christian fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ helping one another and being knit closer in love is missing. There is no accountability to the giver, which may be desired by some. Yet it would be wiser in certain situations for the giver to become more emotionally and practically involved with the recipient of the gift.

You may not ponder how-tos for givers as often as I do with my longing to be a generous giver like God, but I do feel there must be some finer how-tos for givers to learn in this art of giving without fanfare or notice. Perhaps it could suffice us, just for now, to be aware that God does not want us to be show-offs with our giving.


PRAYER: Lord, it sure seems clear that You want us to do our giving quietly and privately or else You see no point in rewarding us for those little (or big) kindnesses. You don't discuss those rewards, but we can imagine they will be good and worthwhile. So help me to learn to give just for Your eyes, and with Your grace. But then - help me to learn when and how to be more involved with the recipient of my gift too.

Jesus is my King!!

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen


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Ruth Marlene Friesen
Ruth Marlene Friesen
The Responsible One

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