“So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward!” Matthew 6:2 HCSB
When we seek others' approval we are not glorifying God but ourselves. So why do we give to the poor? Do we do it so that they may squander away our wealth on their own passions and desires? Do we give to ease our conscience? Or do we give because we are commanded by God to do so?
Not everyone who has their hands out is a divine appointment from God to give our money to them. But we must be listening for God to tell us to give.
“Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:2 HCSB
Giving is part of showing hospitality. we never know who we are giving to or why but we can know that God is watching. By giving we may be giving to angels or we are acting as angels toward them.
“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You? ’ “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”
Matthew 25:35-40 HCSB
Giving is not always about money. It needs to be more about time, food, clothes, shelter, and medicine.
For when we do these things to others who cannot do for themselves we are doing to God.
What about our rewards. If we give so that people will see our self-satisfaction is our reward. But if we do it for God who knows we may just receive back a prophet’s reward
“The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple — I assure you: He will never lose his reward! ””
Matthew 10:40-42 HCSB
God’s reward system is one of overabundance. You cannot give more to God that He cannot give back to you more.
“Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 HCSB
We give because God has commanded us to. When we don’t give we hold back from God what is his anyway.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! ” You ask: “How do we rob You? ” “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. You are suffering under a curse, yet you — the whole nation — are still robbing Me. Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.”
Malachi 3:8-10 HCSB
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