Matthew 6:2-4

"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 men.

I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your fiving may be in secret.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

(NIV)

In verse one, Jesus tells us not to do our good deeds for people. Now he gives an example, giving to the needy. Giving to the needy shouldn't be for praise, and this may sound weird, but it also isn't for the needy. The motivation is God Himself.

This is a fairly recent truth for me. There was a time that I would have said that we need to be doing things for others simply because they need it. But as I have been reading through the Bible, I am seeing more and more, that the needy don't need us. And God doesn't need us to meet the needs of these poor people. Our service should be motivated simply for Him!

Don't do the things you do for other people, do it for the God of heaven and earth.

Here is an example from school. There are plenty of students that do really well in school, but I have to ask, "What is your motivation? Is it because of parents? Is it to get the good grades so that people will know how smart you are?" Doing well in school should be because God has commanded us in His word to do all things as if for Him. So the Geometry and the History and the English and whatever else, should be done for the Glor of God!

Question your motives today.

Also, read the last part of this section again. It is filled with great encouragement.

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.