Agenda Giving
Giving to the Needy
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1
We are back to talking about another small portion of what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount.
[The first part of this series is about judging].
As a backgrounder, Jesus of Nazareth gave this long sermon 2,000 years ago.
This was after Jesus had already started teaching out in public for some time. Word got out and so people came from far and wide to hear what He had to say.
On one of these days, as He saw people following Him, He went up a mountain. He then proceeded to preach to those people who went up the mount after Him.
Willing Audience
These people could have turned back and easily could have just given up climbing up the mountain just to hear Him speak.
So for sure, these people weren't forced to follow Him, they went up out of their own choice to listen to Him. And Jesus did not disappoint.
He gave them an explosive sermon, probably the best and the most conplete sermon ever.
Giving
This part of the sermon was a knock on those who were making a grand show of their charitable works.
What is interesting is that this teaching is just as relevant today than it was during the time it was first preached.
It is probably more relevant now, during the time of social media, smart phones, vlogs, youtube, twitter, instagram and facebook.
Viral Video
Today, more and more people are engaging in what we could call "agenda giving". Meaning their acts of kindness and charitable giving has an ulterior reason, a hidden agenda and they do so for show or because there will be a benefit for them.
They even record their deeds, so millions of people could watch it or would find out about it. And they expect to be rewarded for it.
Earthly Reward
Those who do this is only concerned about the here and now, or about the temporal and its earthly rewards.
This is so fitting for those who live by the motto YOLO or you only live once. And for those who do not believe in the afterlife and in God, this makes perfect sense.
To them aside from the expected rewards, they do their good deeds either because they believe in karma or they want to believe or make other people believe that they are good people.
Ulterior Motives
And they do get rewarded.
People will look up to them. They will get praise from people. They will gain fans and followers or even profit for doing so. And which way, mission accomplished.
Another Way
Jesus told the people who wanted to hear Him speak that this should not be the way they do these things.
Jesus was hated mostly because He told this and other truths and many people didn't like it. It is still the same thing today.
But Jesus will never ever force anyone to listen to Him. If you want to, you're going to have to chase after Him and maybe even climb up the mountain to hear Him.
It's all on you.
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
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. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:2-4
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1
We are back to talking about another small portion of what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount.
[The first part of this series is about judging].
As a backgrounder, Jesus of Nazareth gave this long sermon 2,000 years ago.
This was after Jesus had already started teaching out in public for some time. Word got out and so people came from far and wide to hear what He had to say.
On one of these days, as He saw people following Him, He went up a mountain. He then proceeded to preach to those people who went up the mount after Him.
Willing Audience
These people could have turned back and easily could have just given up climbing up the mountain just to hear Him speak.
So for sure, these people weren't forced to follow Him, they went up out of their own choice to listen to Him. And Jesus did not disappoint.
He gave them an explosive sermon, probably the best and the most conplete sermon ever.
Giving
This part of the sermon was a knock on those who were making a grand show of their charitable works.
What is interesting is that this teaching is just as relevant today than it was during the time it was first preached.
It is probably more relevant now, during the time of social media, smart phones, vlogs, youtube, twitter, instagram and facebook.
Viral Video
Today, more and more people are engaging in what we could call "agenda giving". Meaning their acts of kindness and charitable giving has an ulterior reason, a hidden agenda and they do so for show or because there will be a benefit for them.
They even record their deeds, so millions of people could watch it or would find out about it. And they expect to be rewarded for it.
Earthly Reward
Those who do this is only concerned about the here and now, or about the temporal and its earthly rewards.
This is so fitting for those who live by the motto YOLO or you only live once. And for those who do not believe in the afterlife and in God, this makes perfect sense.
To them aside from the expected rewards, they do their good deeds either because they believe in karma or they want to believe or make other people believe that they are good people.
Ulterior Motives
And they do get rewarded.
People will look up to them. They will get praise from people. They will gain fans and followers or even profit for doing so. And which way, mission accomplished.
Another Way
Jesus told the people who wanted to hear Him speak that this should not be the way they do these things.
Jesus was hated mostly because He told this and other truths and many people didn't like it. It is still the same thing today.
But Jesus will never ever force anyone to listen to Him. If you want to, you're going to have to chase after Him and maybe even climb up the mountain to hear Him.
It's all on you.
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
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. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:2-4
Comments
Post a Comment