Community

Vs 2 -4 says"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  Prov 21:13 says, He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need". Prov.19:17 tells us When we help the poor, we're actually lending to the Lord - and He pays wonderful interest on your loan". People today don't sound a trumpet when they do good deeds, they have their names put on a placard on the back of the pew or some other place to be seen by every one in the church. It's so sad, because Jesus says that's their only reward. If they'd have done it secretly, they'd have done what Vs 20-21 tells us, to store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Someone may give a big gift of 100,000, and it draws the attention of the pastor, and he makes a big announcement, but how much of a sacrifice was it, really? If that person was a millionaire and it was just a one time gift, it wouldn't be the same sacrifice as someone living on a fixed income tithing regularly. In Luke 21, Jesus tells the story of the widows mite where others contributed to the offering out of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, dropped in everything she had to live on. God's economy isn't about volume, but about sacrifice. A lot of people say, "I can't afford to tithe" because they go to do so AFTER they figure out all their expenses. Proverbs 3:9-10 says to Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. The key word there is FIRST fruits. Vs 33 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. In the book of Haggai, the people were spending their time and money on building their own homes and not bothering to give to the rebuilding of the temple. God had Haggai tell them in chapter 1: 6"You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." We can work ourselves to death to try and get ahead, and if we don't put God first, it's like putting our money in pockets with holes in them. Just when you think you're getting ahead, your car breaks down, you hafta call the plumber, electrician or some such other unexpected expense comes up. A lot of people can't afford to tithe because they're in debt up to their eyeballs. Debt was part of the curse in Deuteronomy. One of the blessings that God promised the Israelites in Deut.28:12 and Deut 15:6 when they obeyed God's commandments, was "You shall lend to many, but you shall not borrow". To have enough with which to bless others was one way in which God would bless his people. Prov.22:7 says that "the borrower is servant to the lender". The Hebrew word for "borrowing" has the implication of being bound to the person who has lent you the money. You are tied with a chain to your creditor and he has power over you. It's never God's will for any of His children, that others should have such power over them. 1 Cor.7:23 says we've been bought with Christ's blood we are commanded not to become the slaves of men. Gal.3:13 says Jesus came to deliver us from every curse of the law, having become a curse for us, and He told us in Luke 4:18 that He came to set every bound captive free. 2 Cor.9:6 says we will reap according to what we sow. When we give to the Lord is like sowing seed. If we sow little, we'll reap little. According to Lk. 12:21, we should be `rich' towards God. Also, it's about WHAT you sow, you can't sow carrots and reap tomatoes. This whole subject isn't about God needing our money, He doesn't, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Vs 21 says, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. He's concerned about our heart. Vs 24 says "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.  Malachi 3:10 says to Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. This is the only verse I know of that God tells us to "test" Him. Job 41:11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me. Rom 11:35 says, And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? In Lk 16:11, Jesus said if we are not faithful with money, God will never commit the true riches of His kingdom to us. So many preachers stand in the pulpit making appeals for money, promising that if we give, we'll be blessed. They make it sound like putting money in a vending machine and holding out your hand for the product. Is obvious these guys don't have the true riches of Heaven. Our motive for giving shouldn't be to get back, but because we love God. Papa God always keep everything I do coming from a pure heart of love for You.

This chapter has so many different excellent verses, one could write for each different verse. Verse one sets the pattern for the Chapter. Jesus encourages us to be righteous NOT to impress others. Not to show how great a person we are. Not to BE Seen or "that is what THEY do". We should be righteous to show HOW Great God is. How God is to be worshiped. How we depend (or at least should) on God and his blessings. Concluding with the command First seek God's Kingdom (reign and rule in our hearts), God's Righteousness, and then God's blessings.

How easy it is to fall into the trap of presumptuousness. Human nature (fleshly inclination) is to parade our benevolence to receive the applause of others and raise our view of our self-worth. But self-worth is not impressive to God. Selflessness is! Lord help me to esteem others more highly than myself and not look for my worth in the eyes of people, but to look to you.

Eveything we do should be done for the glory of the Lord, not to be seen of men. it is so much fun to do for others and watch the response when the receive a gift from an unknown source.The blessings we receive for anonymous gifts is wondertul here but the reward in heaven will be greater still. Thus the phrase, "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

We should not do good to receive accolades, but to please our Heavenly Father.

This is one of the biggest lessons I've learned when it comes to tithing and donations......don't let others see what your doing.....good gift are for the kingdom and not for showing off to others how much you care....