“Do Not Sound A Trumpet

Before You”

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:1-4

It seems that when we give to charity, we don’t always do it for the right reasons. Sometimes we want the tax write-off, and sometimes we want other people to know that we gave. Neither are good reasons to give to those less fortunate than we are.

Jesus also dealt with the motives for giving. When he told us not to let our left hands know what our right hands were doing, He was teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. Our giving should be in response to God’s love. To encourage pure motives, Jesus instructed people to give and to do good deeds in secret with no thought for themselves. God, who sees everything, will reward. Our generosity should be God-centered.

God sees the giver as well as the gift; the heart as well as the hand.

Our Daily Bread – October 11, 2007