Village Schools of the Bible

GIVING WITH A RIGHT ATTITUDE
Matthew 6:2-4

In its teachings on the importance of giving, the Old Testament always affirmed the importance of giving to the needy. Deuteronomy 15:11 states, For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, “You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.” Solomon wrote these words of advice in Proverbs 19:17, He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, And He will repay him for his good deed.

To the Jew, giving was the most sacred of all religious duties. The rabbis had proclaimed that greater is he who gives alms than he who offers all sacrifices. They also forbade giving for show. But somewhere along the way, these same Jews lost this sense of sacredness. They publicly announced their giving, using trumpets to attract the crowds and to draw notice to what they were doing. They were hunting for applause and commendation. They sought the recognition of men. And Jesus states that they did receive such recognition – they had received their reward in full.

How is a Christian supposed to act in his giving? First of all, there is an expectation that giving will be a part of our Christian walk. Notice the words of Jesus in verse 3, But when you give…. This is something Jesus expects us to do. We do not have an option to give or not to give. Listen to these words of the Apostle Paul: On the first day of every week let each of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collection be made when I come (1 Corinthians 16:2). It is a command that we put aside every week. Or, hear these words: Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Again, another command to do just as he has purposed in his heart. Giving is as vitally important to a believer’s walk with the Lord as is Bible reading and prayer.

Secondly, our giving must come from a life fully surrendered to Christ. A few years ago I read a story that helped me to understand this point. I share it with you in closing today’s chat.

Two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, joined a party that was going around the world. Before they started, their minister earnestly asked them to observe and remember any unusual and interesting things that they might see in the missionary countries through which the party was to travel. The men promised – carelessly, perhaps, to do so.

In Korea, one day they saw in a field by the side of the road, a boy pulling a crude plow, while an old man held the handles and directed it. The lawyer was amused, and took a snapshot of the scene. “That’s a curious picture! I suppose they are very poor,” he said to the missionary who was interpreter and guide to the party.

“Yes,” was the quiet reply. “That is the family of Chi Noui. When the church was being built they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves.”

The lawyer and the businessman by his side were silent for some moments. Then the businessman said, “That must have been a real sacrifice.” “They did not call it that,” said the missionary. “They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell.”

The lawyer and the businessman had not much to say. But when they reached home the lawyer took the picture to his minister and told him the story. “I want to double my pledge to the church,” he said, “And please, give me some plow work to do. I have never known what sacrifice for the church meant. A converted heathen taught me. I am ashamed to say I have never yet given anything to my church that cost me anything.”

Father, that story is one that brings conviction to our hearts. Few of us really understand what it means to give from a fully surrendered life to Christ. Help us to be open to learn. We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.

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