Strings Attached
to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven..
Matthew 6:1
"Just look at the times I've gone hungry so you could have food. Why I have sacrified and done without so I could give you...."
"What do you mean, 'you gave it away'? Had I known you weren't going to keep it, I wouldn't have given it to you!"
Any of those scenarios sound familiar? Ever have it happen to you? Someone gives you something, or does something for you, only to remind you of it time and time again? It seems when they "tied up the gift" they left a long string attached so they could manipulate you in one way or another, doesn't it?
I've been on both ends of that deal as the "remindee" and the "reminder". Years ago, my brother gave me a lovely coat, but every time he wanted me to do something for him, he felt compelled to remind me of that coat. Even after it was worn out and discarded, he would mention the coat.
I didn't learn anything from it: I once gave a friend a set of dishes. Next time I went to her house, they were gone. When I inquired as to their whereabouts, she told me they had been given away to someone who needed them more than she did. I asked, "But couldn't you have given them your old dishes?" The look she gave me spoke volumes.
Another time, I gave my son a Bible. Beautiful book--even had his name put on the cover. When he came to visit, he had a different one with him. I asked, "Where's the Bible I gave you? Why aren't you using it?"
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:1-4.The NIV puts it like this: "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
An old gentleman I used to know refused to put his tithes in an envelope. When the pastor went to him and told him he would have to put his offerings in envelopes and indicate them as "tithes", he quietly told the pastor, "Sir, that's your problem. The Word of God tells me, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10. I am faithful unto God to do that; how you use them is a responsibility of your stewardship. My tithes are between God and me, not you and me." The pastor would not accept that, and frequently took out his text on the old gentleman.
Whatever gifts we are giving, whatever sacrifices we are making, anything we do is not to be noted for the "atta boys" and accolades so many of this world require. As a member of the Body of Christ, we need to remember: But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:3,4. We don't need to fly any flags, or wear any sandwich-boards; as Jesus told His twelve disciples: ...freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.
We need to carefully examine our reasons for giving to others, for doing for others. Are we like the hypocrites, so we can "be seen of men"? That will be our reward and it ends THIS side of the grave.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:13,14.Now that's "laying up treasures in heaven", my friends!
Ever heard someone boast, "I pray two hours every day!" That's wonderful, and I commend them, but the truth of the matter is, they don't need to brag and boast. It will be evident in their life. I mean it: it will show in our everyday walk with God and we won't need to tell a person!
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5,6.It never fails to amaze me how much we love to talk about the "Unconditional Love Of God". You know, God's "Unconditional Love Towards Us", but how many conditions do we attach to our love towards Him? Hello? "Lord, you heal me and I will _________________." IF He gives us what we want (when we want it), we love Him. But let us not get our way, let us go through a valley of trial, and oh my!
And that "Unconditional Love" we are so fond of prattling about? To whom do we show it? How often to those of a different color skin, or culture--those richer or poorer than we are, those with disabilities who make us feel uncomfortable? Nope, we've all got strings attached to that which we feel, show, or do to others.
We are not content to do our good in secret--we want the accolades of mankind--we want the credit. Yet, Matthew 6:18 tells us, ...thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38. The Living Bible says, "For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will be used to measure what is given back to you." Now could that possibly explain why some of us don't get? Because we are unwilling to give?? But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:6,7.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Psalm 16:2,3.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Proverbs 19:17.
We cannot afford to go about with an "I deserve" attitude; if we got what we truly deserved, I assure you, none of us would want it. We must make certain that our giving is done with the pure intents of a clean heart, with no strings attached. God will be faithful to reward us. Let us make certain that all we do is ...unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21. Not just exceeding, not just abundantly, but exceeding abundantly ABOVE ALL that we ASK or THINK! Glory to God!
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