We can’t pretend that money isn’t important. It is
important. Jesus said where our treasure is (which
includes our money), there will our heart be also
(Matthew 6:21). He fully understood that people will
invest in what is close to their heart. So where and
how we spend our money tells a lot about our priorities
and what’s most important to us.
The attitude of our heart and our motives determine
whether our giving pleases God or not. In
Malachi, it says He rejected Israel’s offering because
they brought Him defective animals—blind calves
and injured ones they couldn’t use. God said it offended
Him. But in 2 Corinthians 9:7, The Amplified Bible
says, “God loves (that is, He takes pleasure in, prizes above
other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without)
a cheerful (joyous, prompt-to-do-it) giver—whose heart is in
his giving.”
The entire kingdom of God is governed
by the law of sowing and reaping. But it’s
not enough just to give. What matters most
is how and why we give. That’s why Jesus
emphasized the attitude of heart when He
taught on the importance of giving.
Matthew 6:3-6
KJV—When thou doest alms, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
that thine alms may be in secret: and thy
Father which seeth in secret himself shall
reward thee openly. And when thou
prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites
are: for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and in the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father which is in secret;
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall
reward thee openly.
Amp—When you give to charity, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand
is doing, So that your deeds of charity may
be in secret; and your Father Who sees in
secret will reward you openly. Also when
you pray you must not be like the hypocrites,
for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and on the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen by people.
Truly, I tell you, they have their reward—in
full already. But when you pray, go into
your most private room, and closing the
door, pray to your Father Who is in secret;
and your Father Who sees in secret will reward
you in the open.
Moffatt—When you give alms, never let
your left hand know what your right hand
is doing, so as to keep your alms secret;
then your Father who sees what is secret
will reward you openly. Also, when you
pray, you must not be like the hypocrites,
for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues
and at the street-corners, so as to
be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get
their reward. When you pray, go into your
room and shut the door, pray to your
Father who is in secret, and your Father
who sees what is secret will reward you.
NIV—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.
Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. And when you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites, for they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on
the street corners to be seen by men. I tell
you the truth, they have received their reward
in full. But when you pray, go into your
room, close the door and pray to your
Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
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