Jesus Teaches on Benevolent Giving!

Pastor Bill Nichols - March 7, 2010

Introduction


We are living in some very challenging economic times. What is distressing to me is the growing number of people who are joining the ranks of the unemployed. There is an ever increasing domino effect taking place, with no immediate end in site. The fewer people who are working, the less tax revenues are received by the government and the greater the number of benefits that the government has to pay out to those who are unemployed. And the worst part of it all is that everyday, more and more people are reaching the end of their unemployment benefits and have no place else to turn.

That's where the religious community and other charitable organizations have been and will in an ever growing capacity have to take up the slack if people are going to survive.

Let us face it, you and I are bombarded every day from organizations, some good, some maybe not so good to make a financial gift to help them meet someone's needs. In recent weeks we have had a fundraiser for Haiti, we are in the middle of a campaign to help the American Cancer Society, Becky and I will soon be participating in our CMA (Christian Motorcyclist Association) Run for the Son fundraiser, and you all, like me, constantly receive something in the mail asking for your contribution. Where does it all end?

I think that each one of us individually has to make that decision as to where we draw the line. Obviously we cannot support every organization every time they ask us for a donation. You have to choose which organizations are worthy of your support, and sometimes, even when good organizations and good people ask for your help, you might have to say no. But that is all between you and God.

Jesus addresses the topic of charitable giving, or giving to the needy in Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 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 men. I tell you the truth; 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."

There are four things that I want you to see from these verses that Jesus shared with those who would be kingdom people.

  1. Jesus assumption toward giving to the needy.
  2. How not to give to the needy.
  3. How to give to the needy.
  4. Your reward for giving to the needy.


1. Jesus Assumes that You will Give to the Needy!


The way I read Jesus words in verse two, Jesus just assumes that people, that you and I, will give to the needy. He says, So when you give to the needy. In both the Old Testament and New Testament we find that God and His people always showed concern for those who did not have the means to take care of themselves.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (NIV)

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.


Acts 4:34-35 (NIV)

There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.


1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NIV)

Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.


James 1:27 (NIV)

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.


God has always had a special place in His heart for the poor and He always made provision for them through His people. Jesus is saying to those who would be kingdom people, if you have the means, you should be helping to support those who legitimately cannot take care of themselves. In particular orphans and widows, but I would add to that those who are disabled and unable to work. How much should you be giving to help the needy? Simply put, how has God blessed you, and what kind of blessing do you want to receive in return from God?

Gods principle is well stated in Luke 6:38 (NIV)

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."


2. How Not to Give to the Needy!


Jesus introduces two principles concerning giving to the poor in this passage, one from a negative perspective and the other from a positive perspective. First He tells us how not to give. Verse 2:

Do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets.
Who do you think He was referring to here? Yes, the Pharisees. The giving of alms to the poor was considered to be a righteous act. But the Pharisees were using this charitable act as a means of blowing their own horns. When they went to the Synagogue or the street corner, they had someone blow a trumpet, probably to let the poor know they were there and wanted to give them something. The problem was that they were not doing it because they really cared about the poor; they were doing it to make themselves look good in the eyes of the people, and as Jesus said, to be honored by men.

Giving to the needy is considered by God to be an act of righteousness. (verse:1) But when we make a show of charitable giving, it is no longer an act of righteousness; rather it is an act of hypocrisy. God assumes that we are going to give, but He likewise assumes that we are not going to blow our horns about our giving.


3. How to Give to the Needy!


Since Jesus assumes that we are going to give, how then are we supposed to do it? In secret!

Now, before we go any further I want to clarify something that I think has long been misunderstood. Jesus here is specifically talking about one kind of giving, charitable giving to the needy. This passage has nothing to do with the giving of our tithes and offerings to the church. Just as Jesus assumes that we will give to the needy, I believe that Jesus assumed that we would give our regular tithes and offerings to the church. According to the Old Testament law, it really was not a secret as to how much a person gave to God. They were required by law to give certain tithes. They had to pay a required temple tax. They had to make additional offerings depending on the seasons and feasts and so on. So when Jesus tells the people that they should give in secret, He is expressly talking about giving to the poor and needy.

When you give to the needy an offering which is above and beyond your regular giving, do it in secret. That's the principle that Jesus wants you to get. Charitable giving should be something between you and God alone. He even uses hyperbole to suggest that you should not even take note of how much you have given when he says do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. In other words, don't toot your own horn.


4. Your Reward for Giving to the Needy


If you want God to bless you for giving to the needy, give in secret. Verse one tells us that when we give in order to be seen by man, we receive no reward from God. Verse two says that when we give in order to be seen by man, we have our reward in full. That is okay, if that is the recognition that you are looking for. If you want your blessings from men, then by all means make a show of your giving. The choice is yours.

If you are seeking a reward from God, then give in secret. Do not give with an expectation of receiving anything in return.

You know that today it is a common ploy to get people to give by giving something in return. It may be a plaque; it may be a pin, whatever. People like to get recognition for doing something that makes a difference. I do not see anything wrong with that. The point Jesus is making though is that it does not earn a reward from God.


Conclusion


In Matthew 26:11 Jesus stated: The poor you will always have with you. The reality is that you will continue to be bombarded with requests to help the poor. While you cannot fulfill every request, when you do give, what will your motivation be? Will you make a show of your giving in order to receive the praise of men, or will you give in secret and thus receive the reward that God wants to give to you. Yes, I said reward that God wants to give to you. It may be a return on your giving. It may be some other blessing in this lifetime. Or it may be some reward that God will give you when you get to heaven. Or it might even be just the commendation, Well done thou good and faithful servant. I do not know what it will be, but I am sure that it will be something better than the praise of earthly men.


Prayer and Invitation

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