When You Give
In the Sermon on the Mount, which is found in 5th through 7th chapters of the book of Matthew, Jesus gave some very practical guidelines on how to live in the Kingdom God. He was introducing principles of life that had been adulterated by a lifeless religion and obscured by people’s sinful nature. The people, who were listening to Him, had been used to living under a legal system of worship and were comfortable in doing the minimum that the law required. Their many traditions were emphasized to enhance their selfish ambitions and to avoid caring for those in need, even of their own household. Jesus talked about the heart. He cut through their traditions and addressed how they live; their attitudes and motives.
In chapter 6, Jesus addresses three spiritual duties. They are: giving, praying and fasting. Each subject is introduced with “when you”. By saying, “when you”, Jesus is assuming that you will do it. It is not a suggestion of right behavior, but rather an expectation. Here I want to concentrate on the first exhortation; “when you give”. The giving that Jesus is referring to here is the giving to the poor, or almsgiving. Almsgiving was a common practice in Israel at the time of Christ, but many religious leaders had used this type of giving as a way of promoting their own spiritual reputation. They would make much to do about how much they were giving, expecting to be recognized and praised by those around them. Jesus rebuked such arrogance and exhorted the people to give in secret, where only God would see.
When one gives to the poor, the Bible says that he lends to the Lord. (Prov. 19.17) It also says that giving to the poor honors God. (Prov. 14.31) God takes notice of not only what we give, but how we give. When we give to be seen by men, we are humiliating the one in need and this does not honor the Lord. But when we give in secret it is an act of worship that comes from a relationship of intimacy with God. Giving to the needy does not necessarily prove a right relationship with God. There are many generous people in the world who give regularly to charity. The Pharisees gave large quantities to charity, but were rebuked by Jesus for neglecting justice and the love of God. (Luke 11.40-42) Our giving is not about us. We are not to benefit from it at all. It is to be done freely, with a heart full of love for God and for the person in need. For this reason our giving to the poor is to be done with discretion.
Jesus and His disciples gave money to the poor and the early Church was reminded to “remember the poor”, (Gal. 2.10). The Roman centurion, Cornelius, because of his faithfulness in his almsgiving and his offerings, got God’s attention. Peter was sent to preach the Gospel to him and his household, thus opening the door to the Gentile world. Tabitha was noted for her almsgiving and good works, which moved the heart of God to raise her from the dead. Paul encouraged the Greek churches to send offerings to the church in Jerusalem, which also was a type of almsgiving. God cares for the poor and moves on the hearts of His people to help meet their needs.
Almsgiving is our moral duty. It is the way God distributes the wealth of this earth to provide for the needs of all. Our giving is to build up and encourage the down trodden. Our giving is to set the people free from debt and despair. Our giving is a powerful tool in witnessing of the love and grace of the Lord. So, WHEN YOU GIVE, give with a heart full of the Love of God.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Mat. 6.2-4; Acts 2.42-45; II Cor. 9.7; I John 3.17; I Tim. 6.18; Prov. 14.21, 31