No Reward For You if in your giving, you must shout from the rooftops of your charitable deeds! In your giving do not be like the Pharisees who did their giving to gain favor or to be seen by others. Their deeds were done to gain favor with God and attention from people, both of which were wrong motives. You know how some people are, they feel they must run and tell everybody within listening distance of the good they think they have done! “Child, if it wasn’t for that donation I made, they would be outdoors, homeless!”
However, their given did not gain them favor with God. These seek the attention and praise of people. And to live for the praise of people is a foolish thing because human glory does not last.
No amount of doing or giving can purchase salvation, for salvation is the gift of God, see Eph. 2:8, 9. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give to one in need, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Our sinful nature is so subtle that it can defile even a good thing like sharing with the poor. If our motives are to be publicly praised, then like the Pharisees, we will call attention to what we are doing. But if our motive is to serve God in love and please Him, then we will give our gifts without calling attention to them. As a result, we will grow spiritually, God will be glorified, and others will be helped.
When you give let your motives be in love not letting your right hand know what the left is doing, and your heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Give as unto the LORD.
Blessings,
Presiding Elder Barbara Hayes
TWFYT | WSB https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barbara375/episodes/NO-REWARD-FOR-YOU-e2eq79f
The Church Within You! 