THE
GIVING OF ALMS
Matthew
6:1-4
The
Lord Jesus Christ constantly warned his disciples to be aware of and to
studiously avoid hypocrisy in all acts of worship and service in the name of
God. Hypocrisy, the leaven of the Pharisees, is the leaven of outward religion.
If it reins in us, it will ruin us. So we are warned to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” (Matt. 16:6). Hypocrisy is
religion that is only skin deep, a religion of works, words and show, a
religion that is void of grace, heart, and spirit. Hypocrisy is a form of
godliness, an outward show of religion and religious activity, without the life
and power of God in the soul.
In
Matthew 6:1-18, our Lord specifically identifies three areas of religious
activity which are easily perverted into mere acts of religious showmanship,
three areas where hypocrisy is commonly seen: the giving of alms, the matter of
prayer, and the practice of fasting. These were prominent religious activities
among the Jews of our Lord’s day. In fact, wherever people practice religion of
any kind, it is most natural to make these three things prominent. All
religions encourage them to one degree or another, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam,
and Christianity. Man naturally associates these things with religion. It is
assumed that in the practice of them we serve God with our whole being: in alms
giving with our estates, in prayer with our souls, and in fasting with our
bodies. While encouraging the practice of outward piety, in this chapter, our
Lord gives us a much needed and commonly ignored warning - In all our acts of worship, service and devotion to God, we must avoid
seeking to be seen of men, and seek only to be seen of and to glorify the Lord
our God.
For now, let’s focus on the
giving of alms. In Matthew 6:1-4, the
Son of God says, "Take heed that ye do not your alms
before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father
which is in heaven. (2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a
trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
(3) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: (4) That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly."
All that is said in these
verses may be applied to all Christian giving; but the specific subject is alms
giving, charity giving, giving to the poor. Without question, this kind of
giving is prescribed by the law of God written upon the hearts of all men by
nature, the law given by the pen of Moses, and by the grace of God experienced
in the soul. Wherever grace and righteousness is established in the heart,
charity flows generously from the hand (Psa. 112:5,9). That which is given to
the poor is said by God to be their due (Prov. 3:27-28). Almsgiving is the
essence of what James describes as the practice of pure, undefiled religion
(James 1:27). Those who profess to be the followers of Christ should, above all
other people, be charitable, generous, giving people. Give to the poor. Give to
the cause of Christ. Give to the church of God. And give to the servants of
God. In all our giving, let us give as unto the Lord. A giving God is worthy of
a giving people (II Cor. 8:7-9). I make this promise to you, as you exercise
generosity for the glory of Christ and the good of your fellowmen - You will never impoverish yourself by
generosity! Do not give by the force of legal constraint. And do not give
from a spirit of covetousness, hoping to get more. But God will never allow a
generous soul to lack the means to be generous (Prov. 3:9-10, 11:24-25; 19:17;
28:27; Mal. 3:10-12; Lk. 6:38; Phil. 4:19). Let every child of God give
according to his own means, “as God hath
prospered him” (I Cor. 16:2). Two
words of warning: (1.) Do not be stingy (II Cor. 9:6-8). (2.) Do not do
anything in a public show (Matt. 6:1-4). Be as quiet and unobservable as
possible in giving.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For Today Radio Message #618
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net