The Heart of Giving

"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." - Jesus (Matthew 6: 2-4)

The question is "Why?". It isn't what or when or even where, it's why. Jesus, once again is talking about the "heart" of the matter. There is a "why" behind every action. I go to work, why? I want me family to eat. I spend time with my wife, why? I love her and I want her to know it. I attend church every opportunity, why? I love God and His people and I want to be with them every chance I get. I sing songs to God and His people, why? It expressed my feelings and uplifts my spirit. I pray, why? It is the only way that I have to speak directly to my Father. I give an offering, why? That is the question Jesus asks of us today? Why do we give our offerings? What is our motive?

Let's take a look at a story that Mark includes in his gospel... And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

The poor widow's offering was different than the others. They had plenty and giving a little was no sacrifice to them. They still had their fine chariots and lavish homes. They still had their refrigerators full of food and their closets filled with the latest fashions. She made the decision to give everything she had to live on. How do you do that? How do you decide that eating today is optional when you have the opportunity to give to others? Certainly, we see the difference. We understand that one is given out of excess and the other is given from the heart.

When Jesus encountered the rich young ruler, who undoubtedly gave at the Temple as commanded, He called on him to give everything. (Matthew 19:16-30) The young man was very sad because he had great possessions (or better yet, many things possessed him).

Jesus calls on His disciples to give. The New Testament doesn't say how much. (that may surprise some of you) The tithe was an Old Testament command and just as with other commands, had been distorted and abused. So, the heart was to be engaged when the amount to give was being considered. Paul tells the church in Corinth, Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7) No longer was the giving out of compulsion. Now, each of us is called on to give "as he has decided in his heart". The widow decided to give everything, from her heart. The rich had decided to give out of their excess. Jesus saw the heart of both and praised the widow for her heartfelt decision.

He tells us that our giving should be between us and God. It is not for show. It is not to get praise from others. It is a private matter and is to be a heart decision. I can imagine the rich of His day, parading their gift down the street with a band announcing their arrival. All eyes on them and what they were giving. The attention was theirs. Meanwhile, the widow arrives without notice and slips here coins into the plate without any notice. But He noticed! The One that counts... noticed. And He says, "She will get her reward from the Father".  The rich, with their band playing got their reward from the people. There is a clear difference.

What about you? This Sunday when you bring your offering to the LORD, where is your heart going to be? Will you quietly give as you have been prospered? Will you give only from your excess funds? Or, will you bring the offering that your heart is telling you to bring? When you place your gift in the basket, will you be filled with joy or will you be thinking about what you could have done with those funds? New pair of shoes? Pocketbook? New motorcycle? New___? You fill in the blank. Jesus sees the heart. He knows our intentions. God doesn't need our money. It is for our benefit that we can give. Think about that for a moment.

Wise or foolish?