What Does Bible Say About Giving?

Matthew 6:1-4 is a passage from the Bible that discusses the importance of practicing righteousness with a pure heart and without seeking attention or recognition from others. Here is a description of this passage along with an example:

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others 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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. ~ Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

In these verses, Jesus emphasizes the importance of performing acts of righteousness, such as giving to the needy, with sincerity and without seeking public recognition. He warns against practicing righteousness for the sole purpose of gaining praise or honor from others. Instead, Jesus encourages his followers to give to the needy in a humble and discreet manner, so that the focus remains on helping others rather than seeking personal glory.

Example: Let's say there is a person named Sarah who wants to donate money to a local charity. If Sarah donates a large sum of money and then publicly announces it on social media, seeking attention and admiration from others, she is not following the teachings of Jesus. However, if Sarah quietly donates the money without seeking any recognition, perhaps by giving it directly to the charity without drawing attention to herself, then she is practicing righteousness as taught in these verses. In this case, Sarah's act of giving is driven by genuine compassion and a desire to help others, rather than seeking external validation or praise.

Now, let's look at a biblical example that reflects the principle in Matthew 6:1-4:

In Mark 12:41-44 (NIV), Jesus observed people putting money into the temple treasury. Many wealthy individuals donated large sums of money, but a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Jesus called his disciples and pointed out that the widow's small contribution surpassed the larger donations because she gave out of her poverty, giving everything she had.

This biblical example highlights the significance of the widow's humble and sacrificial giving. Despite having very little to offer, her act of giving was genuine and selfless. The widow's donation exemplifies the teaching in Matthew 6:1-4 because she didn't seek recognition or praise for her small gift. Her motivation was pure, and she gave with a generous heart.

Are you donating because God said or for your own majesty? We must only focus to Follow God not People nor the World. 😊