90. Give To Those In Need

Matthew 6:1-4, James 1:27

Key Verse: 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.

James 1:27

We miss the true meaning of Jesus' teaching here, unless we understand the culture into which He is speaking. In Jesus' day, the people were used to seeing their religious leaders, who were also, usually pretty wealthy, make a big show of distributing gifts to the poor. Tossing coins to peasants and proclaiming loud blessings from the, "holy men," was an everyday occurrence. The commoner was left to praise and admire their generosity while the poor were shamed by having their condition pointed out.

In referring to these show offs, Jesus uses the word "hypocrite," to describe them. In our culture, we immediately think of hypocrites as those who say one thing, but do another. Jesus, however, is using the word that referred to a Greek actor on a stage who is only acting and uses a mask to disguise his true appearance. Actors receive their reward through the audience's applause for their performance. It's the same with those who do their giving publicly for all to see. The mask hides the true meaning of the gift. The giver appears to be generous, but his true motive isn't concern for the poor, but to be thought of appreciatively by the onlookers.

"Don't give in this way," Jesus warns. "This doesn't impress God, only man. They have their reward already. They've received their pats on the back by their colleagues and admirers. In fact, that is the motivation for their giving. They aren't giving out of concern for the plight of the recipient. They’re only giving to show off. Don't do it that way. It's not giving for the right reasons and it insults rather than blesses the one who receives."

This is another area of our lives in which Jesus addresses our attitude. He calls us to examine what is motivating us to give. Are we giving to impress, or are we giving from concern and compassion for the poor and needy around us?

In the book of the law, God instructed his people to remember the poor. He warned them to leave some of the harvest behind so that the poor could glean. He instructed the priests to remember the poor. The prophets warned the people that God would bring down punishment because the poor were being abused and neglected. The poor are important to Jesus. As we have already seen, Jesus Himself grew up in the poorest of circumstances so that He could lift all men.

Do your giving because you really care; not just for the tax write off or to impress your fellow church goers. Your Father sees, and your Father knows your true motive. That is what your heavenly Father will reward. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7B) No matter what you show your fellow man, God is watching and knows the truth.

Hymn: "We Give Thee but Thine Own"

(The hymn above was sung at our wedding; Greg & Kathy Du Bois)