Audience of One: Week 2
February 28, 2021
Matthew 6:2-4
Jesus’ words here challenge a lot of what goes on today in fund-raising and charitable causes. Of course, one of the biggest motivations for people who give large gifts is the prestige that results. Jesus questioned that spirit of giving. He detested those who made a great show of presenting their gifts in the temple and elsewhere as if they were generous and upright, but behind the scenes practiced the worst sorts of greed and immorality. He was not attacking giving, but hypocrisy. We can be sure we are giving with right motives when we give anonymously. This way, our gifts will affect no one’s opinion of us one way or the other. The matter will stay between us and God and he can evaluate our motives.
