Giving with the Right Motives: A Heart of Generosity
Summary
### Summary
In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus teaches about the importance of giving with the right motives. He warns against performing acts of righteousness merely to be seen by others, emphasizing that such actions will not be rewarded by God. Instead, Jesus encourages giving in secret, ensuring that our charitable deeds are done with sincerity and a focus on pleasing God rather than seeking human approval. This teaching is part of a broader series on the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines the standards of righteousness expected of His followers.
The sermon delves into the significance of motives behind our actions, particularly in the context of charitable giving. Jesus contrasts the behavior of hypocrites, who seek public recognition for their generosity, with the ideal of giving discreetly and sincerely. The ultimate goal is to please God, who sees what is done in secret and rewards accordingly. This principle extends to all aspects of practical righteousness, urging believers to live with their eyes focused on God and His approval.
The message also addresses common misconceptions about money and giving. It highlights that God is not opposed to rewarding His followers for their faithfulness and obedience. Just as a king rewards a loyal subject, God delights in blessing those who honor Him. The sermon encourages believers to view giving as a normal and expected part of their faith, driven by a heart of mercy and compassion, rather than obligation or a desire for recognition.
By examining our motives and aligning our actions with God's will, we can practice true righteousness. This involves giving sincerely, secretly, and with an eternal perspective, storing up treasures in heaven rather than seeking earthly accolades. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to reflect God's generosity and mercy in their own lives, trusting Him as their source and provider.
### Key Takeaways
1. Examine Your Motives: Jesus emphasizes the importance of examining our motives behind acts of righteousness. Giving should be done to please God, not to gain human approval. When our actions are driven by a desire to glorify God, we align ourselves with His will and receive His reward. [04:43]
2. Give Sincerely: True generosity stems from a heart of mercy and compassion. Giving should not be a grudging obligation but a joyful expression of love and obedience to God. When we give with the right attitude, we honor God and reflect His character. [24:23]
3. Give Secretly: Jesus teaches that our charitable deeds should be done in secret, without seeking recognition or praise from others. This ensures that our motives remain pure and that our reward comes from God, who sees what is done in secret. [31:46]
4. Trust God as Your Source: Our response to giving is influenced by who we see as our provider. When we trust God as our source, we can give freely and generously, knowing that He will take care of our needs. This trust frees us from the anxiety of holding on to our resources. [18:49]
5. Store Up Heavenly Treasures: Giving with an eternal perspective means investing in the kingdom of God rather than seeking earthly rewards. By sacrificing temporary comforts for eternal rewards, we align our hearts with God's purposes and experience the joy of contributing to His work. [39:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:11] - Opening Prayer
[02:19] - Sociology Class Story
[04:43] - Examining Motives in Giving
[06:01] - Reward for Righteousness
[07:21] - Jesus on Charitable Giving
[08:39] - The Greek Word for Charitable Giving
[10:05] - Money and Faith
[11:39] - Economic Challenges and Greed
[13:09] - Financial Abuse in the Church
[14:26] - Jesus' Expectation of Giving
[15:58] - Biblical Command to Give
[17:23] - Personal Story on Money Mindset
[18:49] - Trusting God as Provider
[20:13] - God's Generosity
[21:36] - Changing Wrong Mindsets
[22:57] - God's Provision for Education
[24:23] - Give Sincerely
[25:44] - Heart Attitude in Giving
[27:19] - New Testament Teaching on Giving
[28:55] - Giving with the Right Attitude
[30:18] - Not Giving Out of Fear
[31:46] - Give Secretly
[33:11] - Example of Ananias and Sapphira
[34:36] - Avoiding Showy Giving
[35:51] - Giving as an Unconscious Habit
[37:18] - Giving Without Fanfare
[38:28] - Give for Heavenly Spoils
[39:43] - Investing in Eternal Rewards
[41:14] - Sacrificing for the Kingdom
[42:25] - Practical Examples of Sacrificial Giving
[43:33] - Generosity Brings Breakthrough
[44:49] - God's Faithfulness in Provision
[46:02] - Seeing People, Not Just Needs
[47:12] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 6:1-4 (NET)
- Hebrews 11:6 (NET)
- 2 Corinthians 9:5-10 (NET)
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:1-4, what does Jesus say about the way we should perform acts of righteousness? [04:43]
2. In Hebrews 11:6, what two things must one believe about God to come to Him?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 9:7 describe the attitude we should have when giving?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize giving in secret rather than seeking public recognition? [31:46]
2. How does trusting God as our source influence our willingness to give generously? [18:49]
3. What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven, and how does this perspective change our approach to giving? [39:43]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own motives for giving. Are there times when you have given to seek approval from others rather than to please God? How can you shift your focus to align with Jesus' teaching? [04:43]
2. Think about a recent act of generosity. Did you give with a joyful heart or out of a sense of obligation? How can you cultivate a heart of mercy and compassion in your future giving? [24:23]
3. Jesus teaches us to give in secret. What practical steps can you take to ensure your charitable deeds remain private and sincere? [31:46]
4. Consider your current financial situation. Do you trust God as your provider, or do you find yourself holding back out of fear? How can you grow in your trust in God's provision? [18:49]
5. How can you start viewing your giving as an investment in the kingdom of God rather than a loss of personal resources? What changes can you make to prioritize eternal rewards over earthly accolades? [39:43]
6. Identify a specific need in your community or church. How can you contribute to meeting that need in a way that reflects God's generosity and mercy? [46:02]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt blessed by someone else's generosity. How did it impact you, and how can you pass on that blessing to others in your own acts of giving? [43:33]
Devotional
Day 1: Examine Your Motives
Jesus emphasizes the importance of examining our motives behind acts of righteousness. Giving should be done to please God, not to gain human approval. When our actions are driven by a desire to glorify God, we align ourselves with His will and receive His reward. [04:43]
Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV): "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Reflection: Think of a recent act of kindness or charity you performed. Were your motives purely to please God, or were you seeking recognition from others? How can you shift your focus to ensure your actions are for God's glory alone?
Day 2: Give Sincerely
True generosity stems from a heart of mercy and compassion. Giving should not be a grudging obligation but a joyful expression of love and obedience to God. When we give with the right attitude, we honor God and reflect His character. [24:23]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Reflect on your attitude towards giving. Do you give out of obligation or joy? How can you cultivate a heart of genuine compassion and mercy in your acts of generosity?
Day 3: Give Secretly
Jesus teaches that our charitable deeds should be done in secret, without seeking recognition or praise from others. This ensures that our motives remain pure and that our reward comes from God, who sees what is done in secret. [31:46]
Proverbs 11:25 (ESV): "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Reflection: Consider a way you can give or serve someone in need this week without anyone else knowing. How does this practice help you focus on God's approval rather than human recognition?
Day 4: Trust God as Your Source
Our response to giving is influenced by who we see as our provider. When we trust God as our source, we can give freely and generously, knowing that He will take care of our needs. This trust frees us from the anxiety of holding on to our resources. [18:49]
Philippians 4:19 (ESV): "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle to trust God as your provider. What steps can you take to surrender this area to Him and trust in His provision?
Day 5: Store Up Heavenly Treasures
Giving with an eternal perspective means investing in the kingdom of God rather than seeking earthly rewards. By sacrificing temporary comforts for eternal rewards, we align our hearts with God's purposes and experience the joy of contributing to His work. [39:43]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Think about your current priorities and investments. Are you more focused on accumulating earthly possessions or investing in eternal treasures? How can you shift your focus to align more with God's kingdom purposes?
Quotes
1. "Practical righteousness is to live to impress God and not to live to impress others. In this second section, Jesus is focusing on what does that look like? And how do your motives influence your actions? How do your beliefs move your behaviors? He begins by encouraging, of course, us all to examine our motives, to consider our heart, to look to ourselves, to live for God, right? He's saying, look at yourself, look at your heart. Why are you doing that? And then he says, live with your eye focused on God." [04:43] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we learn to live out the righteousness of Jesus, then we're going to learn how to give on principle and not on impulse. And we're going to give mercy. Why? Because we've received mercy. Just like you and I have received goodness from God and blessing from God and grace from God, so in the same manner, if we're going to be like our Heavenly Father, what are we going to do? We're going to give same way that we received. We're going to give mercy and blessing and grace to others." [09:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we see ourselves or we see others as our source of provision or even the means of success, because remember money equals value, value, we're looking to be successful so we can have more value so we can be seen as more. You want that promotion. Why? Because you want to be seen as more valuable. Does that make sense? Like who's more valuable, a general or Lance corporal? Lance corporal. Hey, let's go. Who's more valuable in the eyes of the government, a GS 15 or GS 12? You see how that works." [18:49] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we trust God as our source, then we're going to give the right way and for the right reasons. We're going to give as unto the Lord and not to impress others or to be seen by others. And the reason why we do this is because we are acting and living just like our heavenly father. What did God do? He gave his only begotten son the best thing that he had. He gave his only begotten son the best thing that he had. To the world. He gives us peace. He gives us joy. He gives us mercy. He provides for us." [19:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We don't give because we're commanded to. Are there commands? Yes. But what did Jesus say? If you love me, you do what? Keep my commands. We don't give because there's a rule. If we want to slip back into works righteousness and be like the scribes and Pharisees that don't get to enter the kingdom of heaven based on their righteousness, we give because we're forced to. We don't give because we're commanded to. We don't give because we're forced to. God's not standing here. Well, he might be actually, because Jesus was in the temple watching them give." [28:55] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When you give, give for the right reasons and for the right attitude. Amen. And then point number two, give secretly. Give secretly. Matthew chapter six, verse two through four, Jesus said again, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret and your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly." [31:46] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "When we give in the way that honors God, and when we give towards the kingdom, when we give towards the needy around me, when I give to be a blessing to others, when I give with the right heart and the right attitude in the right way, what I'm doing is I'm actually storing up for myself treasure in heaven. So why, why wouldn't I give up the occasional cup of coffee to bless someone? Why wouldn't I give up Netflix so that I could sow into a building fund?" [41:14] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Ultimately, when we give this way, we please God because God loves a cheerful giver. The idea that, that, that God loves me, not because of what I do, but because he sees me doing what he does. Right. When my kids were little and they did the right thing, it just made my heart jump up big. Why? Because they just did the right thing. That's my kid. Yes. When you honor God this way, this way, that's my kid. That's yes. Amen." [45:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Let's not adopt the wrong viewpoint on giving. Let's not do it because we're commanded to or forced to, or someone's, you know, there's some kind of exchange going on with God that if you don't give, he's not going to bless you. God blessed you before. You got saved. He don't need your money. It's his money. He's letting you borrow. But let's do it with the right attitude, the right heart, a worshipful heart. And let's, let's see when, especially when it comes to people in need, let's not see their need. Let's see them." [45:55] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When we give secretly, when we give without fanfare, we're giving. Just like God does. And then finally, I got to finish up. Point number three, give for heavenly spoils. So I'm keeping the S's going, sincerely, secretly, and with spoils in mind. Luke 12, 34 says, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So righteousness is a matter of the heart and the reward we pursue reveals our heart. When we give in sincerity and in secret, we'll receive a reward from our heavenly father." [38:28] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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