GUIDELINES FOR GIVING

By retired Florida Senator, John Grant, Week 25, 2020

“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 6:3-4).

While walking across a college campus I was struck by the fact that every building had someone’s name on it. America has been built on philanthropy. Last year American’s gave over $410 billion to all sorts of charities. But is giving in exchange for naming rights really giving, really charity or is it purchasing? I think the act is more of a purchase. The Bible says that too.

Whether he was talking about a widow giving an offering at the temple, a young rich man giving up his wealth, or his followers who gave a cup of cold water to someone in need, Jesus repeatedly reminds us that giving to others is a way to honor God. We should give from the heart.

Recently in our town there was a perfect example of how to give. Last December, an anonymous donor dropped two ancient Greek gold coins into a red Salvation Army kettle outside of a local grocery store. The gold coins date back to 42-40 B.C. Wrapped around one of the coins was a note signed simply “Doing the most good.”

Each coin had a gold value of around $450, but “the collector value was more.” The coins were manufactured between 42 and 40 B.C. One side features a Roman consul accompanied by two lictors, who were civil servants who acted as attendants or bodyguards in ancient Rome. The other side displays an eagle with spread wings that is standing on a scepter and clutching a laurel wreath in its right talon.

One of the nation’s largest coin dealers offered to sell the coins at no charge, so they put them up for auction………

In our town there is a church with a large educational building given totally by a donor. A plaque was placed at the front door detailing who gave and how much. The donors directed it then be covered in concrete so no one would know.

Jesus warned: “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.” (Matthew 6:2)

Think of this when you give. Don’t “blow your own trumpet”, but do it in secret keeping it under a bushel. God will be rewarded, and you will be blessed.

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death.

“But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”

“But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.

“Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.”

“Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

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Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you (Romans 12: 2).

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

The question is not rather you were saved but rather are you saved. Ken Whitten

Fear of God is the continued awareness that I am in the presence of a Holy and Almighty God and that every thought, word, action and deed is open before Him and is being judged by Him. Ken Whitten

To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD. Stupid people have no respect for wisdom and refuse to learn. Proverbs 1:7 GNT

Justice is getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. But mercy is not getting what you deserve.