Thoughts on giving (3)

We each give for different reasons. (1) Some people give out of guilt. They give to God’s work because they would feel bad if they didn’t. (2) Some people give out of greed. They give only to get. They stand on scriptures such as: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38 NKJV). What’s wrong with this kind of thinking? It’s “me-centred,” rather than “us-centred.” (3) Some people give to get glory. Jesus said, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1 NKJV). God is not just interested in what you give, but in why you give. He looks beyond the measure of your giving to the motive behind it. If you give to God out of greed, guilt, or glory, He writes a big zero over your account. Jesus said, “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” (vv. 3-4 NKJV). (4) Some people give out of gratitude. These are the folks who ask, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12 NKJV), and they give out of gratitude. That’s the kind of giver you should be.