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When You Do Good
WHEN YOU Series pt. 1
Intro: “When you” has instructions and benefits. Motives are the key – why we do something.
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The thought of a wrong motive is not yet sin.
Matthew 6 (NKJV) “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
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WHEN YOU DO A CHARITABLE DEED its not to be announced.
JAMES 1:27 NASB Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
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ALMS – food, money, and provision
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2 Thessalonians 3:10, “…If any will not work, neither let him eat.”
We are to err on the side of Grace, but use wisdom. Not doing anything is just as bad as self-promotion.
Sidenote: “keep oneself unstained [unspotted / untarnished] by the world.”
By the way, in case you thought helping others covers it, not so – holiness is important.
Lukewarm believers often help those in need to avoid obedience.
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HOW TO DO A CHARITABLE DEED
…when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.
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Do not bring attention to it. If attention finds you, that’s different.
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
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Left and right hand – hyperbole to show the seriousness.
Giving releases me from Idolatry (not Dollar Tree) and releases the blessing. Give food, provision, and things away: It has to hit where it hurts.
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Don’t give to others or the church if it belongs at the dump.
Giving time: a listening and supportive ear is often better than a full stomach. Our priorities reveal our heart. Are we always on the run…too busy for others?
THE ORDER OF RESPONSIBILITY: provide for your family and live below your means. From that provision, you then reach out to orphans and widows.
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The Old Testament had a tithe and other requirements; the NT is generosity from a cheerful heart to those in need and those who build us up spiritually – from the nursery to serving opportunities – to heating and rent.
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We go from a consumer to an investor.
How would God invest His money since it’s all His anyway?
Giving crushes idolatry because it’s the closest thing we have to making us self-sufficient and god-like.
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We can rest more and buy more and control more and change more if I have more. It’s a gauge that measures spiritual health by giving its power away?
God says try me in this – It’s a principle He honors.
Malachi 3 NKJV, 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
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They weren’t giving to His house…to His work.
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Rob – to take what is not yours.
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The result was lack and difficulties.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts.”
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Test Me – sowing and reaping.
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Trust Me – release the grip money has.
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The Devourer – to take something quickly.
If you can never get ahead…if things are being devoured. Or if you have abundance but there’s no joy and peace – if you’re always striving and complaining about finances – things breaking all the time: “if it’s not one thing, it’s the other”. This principle may be in play.
A big mistake is when we say, “God is blessing me; just look at all my stuff.” Selfishness could be blessing you and your lacking the blessings of God.
Communion – examine: have you been taking from God and others?
Remember – it’s not about doing Good and earning salvation.
“Woe to you who put far off the day of doom” (Amos 6:3).
He will not be dousel, He will dominate. He will not be passive, He will be aggressive. He will not be weak and intimidated, He will be strong and forceful.
He will not coward back, He will move forward aggressively. He will not be defeated, He will be victorious – His robe is dipped in the blood of His enemies.
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