Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving, before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1 WEB
This statement is part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. It deals with the motivation for charitable giving. The proper motivation is to honor and glorify God. Jesus follows in Matthew 6:2 saying, “Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. WEB”
Paul touches on this subject in Galatians 6:7-9 writing, “Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. WEB” If our charitable giving is motivated by the flesh and worldly recognition, we are living outside of the will of God.
The Will of God
Jesus encouraged his followers to endure in the Spirit and in righteousness at all times in spite of trouble. The Lord says of the end times in Matthew 24:12-13, “Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. WEB” We endure by staying in the Lord. Our motivation is to glorify God, attracting others to the kingdom of heaven.
God knows all things including the internal motivation for our actions. In charitable giving, righteousness is motivated by the desire to do the will of God. If the cause of our charitable giving is selfish rather than one of service, we are outside of God’s will. As Jesus says in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. WEB”
Let Your Light Shine
Significantly, the Lord said in Matthew 23:27-28, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. WEB”
In charitable giving and genuine submission to the Lord, the internal motivation for our acts is consistent with our external behavior. Jesus does not forbid doing good deeds in public as he says in Matthew 5:16, “Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. WEB” Rather, the Lord teaches the faithful to glorify God with our actions instead of arrogantly doing good deeds to be seen as righteous by others.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your holy word. Thank you for making clear what you expect of me. Guide me with your word. Cleanse me from the inside out. Give me a clean heart to do your will. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Bread of Life
