[Mat 6:1-4]] KJV*
1 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 kn
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus teaches on alms, prayer, fasting, and our Fathers provision for us. The first of these is what I would like to talk about today: alms. Alms are any compassionate act of giving whether to the poor, a widow, an orphan, or the destitute.
It is the compassion of God within us that must be the driving and motivating force behind our acts of alms giving. Giving alms without a God given compassion, while still helpful to those in need, is hurtful to the one giving the alms. Our giving can never be for obedience sake alone but instead because the Father lives in us. His compassion, alive in us. making an overwhelming urge to help those in need.
There are other places that speak of our giving in first and second Corinthians, Philippians, and Galatians. There are three types of giving in the new testament support of ministry, providing for our brothers lack, and the giving of alms.
The first two are about fellowship with our brothers and our Lord; the last is about being like our Father; and is to all in need. These ways of giving all have two things in common; motive and effect.
Paul writes in Corinthians we must submit ourselves to God first then to our giving. For we are his and not our own; we are crucified in His crucifixion and the life in us is by his Spirit. Therefore if we act out of duty, guilt, or greed it becomes a work of the flesh and a path to separation from the life in us.
One note before getting back to Matthew; for those who ask others for a gift, always encourage them to follow the leading of the Lord. If we "ask" Gods people to give by extortion..i.e. God will not bless you if you don't. Not only do you offend God yourself, but also you share in the offense of each person who gave by their own motives of fear or greed.
Which brings us squarely back to Jesus teaching that if we do our alms before men to be seen and honored of men; whatever they think of us is all we receive.
So what is this left hand right hand...it deals with the weaker part of us and the stronger.
The Spirit and compassion from the agape( detailed yesterday) living in us is your strength. The carnal mind is your weakness...so don't take council from your mind about what the Spirit is leading you to do.
If the question in ones mind at this point is; what will God reward me with? You missed the point of agape and compassion.
Neither can be walked in with thought for self. That being said with what measure you meet God measures to you. Pour yourself out toward Him and others with His agape and compassion; which He places in you by faith in his grace.Knowing He will act in the same way toward you.
For the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail
