慷慨给予

在这段经文中，对于耶稣的许多听众来说，慷慨和公义是一回事。人们宣传他们的捐赠并不少见。

这样的事如今也有。我们会看到富有的人把他们的部分财富捐给慈善机构——同时伴随着新闻稿和媒体采访。

公众的认可会让人感觉很棒。你能提供一些本来不可能的东西，别人的称赞会让你感觉很惬意。但耶稣说，那些默默奉献的人会收到更大的奖赏。当你慷慨给予时，你想要谁保留这些记录呢？世界的掌声比神的祝福奖赏更好吗？

说到慷慨给予，有三个原则会浮现出来。第一，没有人穷得不能给予。哪怕你囊中羞涩，神都会祝福你的慷慨。第二，慷慨给予应该是一种牺牲。C.S. 鲁益师说，给予的最安全原则就是超出你剩余的部分。最后，给予的量应该是你内心的决定，而不是出于强迫。这是你和神之间的私事。

你给予的目的不应该是讨好他人，相反，这是一种操练，能增加你对神的信心，使你更靠近祂。

慷慨的神，我们的一切都出于祢。求使我们做好管家，管理祢所托付的——并信靠祢会持续地供应我们。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

1 “你们要小心，不可将善事行在人的面前，故意叫他们看见。若是这样，就不能得你们天父的赏赐了。
2 所以，你施舍的时候，不可在你面前吹号，像那假冒为善的人在会堂里和街道上所行的，故意要得人的荣耀。我实在告诉你们：他们已经得了他们的赏赐。
3 你施舍的时候，不要叫左手知道右手所做的，
4 要叫你施舍的事行在暗中，你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。

Generous Giving

“When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” — Matthew 6:3

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For many of the people Jesus was speaking to in this passage, generosity and righteousness were considered the same. And it was not uncommon that people publicized their giving.

That happens today too. We see it when a famously wealthy person gives part of their fortune to a charity—along with a press release and media interviews.

Public recognition can feel good. It can be nice to hear praise when you can provide something that would otherwise not be possible. But Jesus says there is an even greater reward for people who give quietly. Who do you want keeping the records when it comes to your generosity? Is the applause of the world better than the reward of blessing from God?

When it comes to giving generously, three principles come to mind. First, no one is too poor to give. Even if you are struggling to get by, God will bless your generosity. Second, generous giving should be sacrificial. C. S. Lewis said that the safest rule for giving is to give more than you can spare. Finally, the amount you give ought to be decided in your own heart and not given out of compulsion. It is a private matter between you and God.

The purpose of your giving should not be to impress others. Instead, it is a discipline that should increase your faith in God to provide for you and to draw you closer to him.

Prayer

Generous God, all that we have is from you. Make us good stewards of all you have entrusted to us—trusting in faith that you will continue to provide. In Jesus, Amen.