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Caring for the poor is close to God's heart and it is a calling on each of us. But, do we practice anonymous generosity - purely giving from the heart with the knowledge that God sees and honors our actions? Or, are our generosity motives rooted in a self-serving trap of public acknowledgment? Jesus calls us to give generously and humbly with no desire for man's recognition, reward, or honor as our worth rests in Him. This is the significance secret!
Message Notes 18/08/2024
"22 When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 23:22 (NIV)
Old Testament teachings about generosity:
1/ "11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."Deuteronomy 15:11 (NIV)
2/ "21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbour, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy." Proverbs 14:21 (NIV)
Blessed here means:
The good life, Ashre in Hebrew.
This kindness/generosity, (different from the tithe) is known as Almsgiving: the act of donating one’s time, money, and possessions to those in need.
New Testament teachings about generosity:
"6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. " 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NIV)
Jesus calls us to practice three actions in secret:
1/ Almsgiving (generosity to the poor)
2/ Prayer
3/ Fasting
Be mature/grow up (Teleios) when giving to the needy:
“1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)
Purehearted generosity paves the way to eternal significance
The obedience question: Am I "practicing righteousness"?
What: Piety / mercifulness - spiritual practices will not get you into heaven
Why: Christians are called to practice righteousness
How: Maimonides’ (Rabbi in the Middle ages) Eight Levels of Charity
Unwillingly
Glady, but inadequately
After being asked
Before being asked
The recipient only knows the giver
The giver only knows the recipient
The giver and recipient are unknown to each other
Empowering to financial stability
The clarifying question: How do I let my light shine in secret?
Be indifferent to praise and don't give to receive praise.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
The internal question: What are my motives?
Motives matter, because if they are not pure, they will keep you trapped even if the action is well intended.
"Motive is often the only difference between giving a gift and bribery," Scott B Rae
Impure motives:
1/ Giving expecting gratitude: give only if giving is it's own reward.
2/ Giving to prove myself (without compassion): give with a heart aligned with compassion, and genuine care for others.
3/ Giving for praise: giving to receive acknowledgement.
The eternal question: Where am I looking for significance?
The genius of Jesus is that He empowers us to true freedom. He sets us free from a trap which we all fall into to some extent.
"When you give, are you doing it because you are looking for the honour of people? If you make a big noise about your giving (sounding a trumpet in public), then the praise of honour is what you will get!" Richard Rohr
If you live for the praise of people, you will die from the lack of it
Worldly status and an inflated ego drives our fear of insignificance, and we waste energy trying to find temporary significance while wrestling feelings of being a failure or a fraud.
"Honour is excellence as recognized by society, and therefore self image and human value are forever shaky, changing and unreliable." Richard Rohr
Don't practice righteousness for the approval trap of praise, honour, reward or affirmation.
Jesus sees you and offers true and lasting significance.
Your worth rests in the Lord and He honours you.
Purehearted generosity paves the way to eternal significance
1/ Giving is good just as God gave - John 3:16.
2/ We all have something to give despite our personal situation - 2 Cor 8-9.
3/ Give with humility, because one day you may be in need.
Call to action
Examine your heart and determine what you could do to grow in humble, Kingdom-focused generosity.
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