Matthew 6:1-4

I don’t think passing an offering plate or taking a march offering goes against what Jesus is teaching in these verses. It’s not the means of giving, or even if someone sees you giving. In fact, I personally think our children are being deprived of a tangible example of the importance of giving. I digress.

As always, Jesus is speaking to our hearts. Our motives. I’ve always thought I understood that in regard to this portion of the Sermon on the Mount. But Oswald Chambers suggests I didn’t understand at all. (Studies on the Sermon on the Mount; Oswald Chambers Publishing; updated 2016).

Chambers sees Jesus telling us to “have no other motive in giving than to please God.” (Page 30) That, he says, includes being motivated to give by “they need help,” or “they deserve it,” or “it will do them good.”

No other motive.

So now I’m asking myself if I give to my church because they need to pay the bills. Do I give to missions so we’ll meet our goal? Do I take a meal because someone had surgery? Do I write my check each month thinking about my obligation to tithe, or the line-item on my tax form for charitable giving?

No other motive.

Jesus is telling us that wanting to please him ought to be our motive to the point that it’s second nature, our right hand won’t be aware of our left hand because our focus is on God.

That’s not limited to financial giving, either. I’m asking myself today if I give of my time, talents, and money with the singular goal of bringing a smile to God’s face. If others are blessed by what I do, do I consider that a bi-product of my desire to please God with my giving? Or do I consider the people who are blessed as my reason to give?

Will the decisions I make today, the words I say, the attitudes I have, and the love I express be motivated by my desire to please God, and nothing less?

That’s my prayer.