On giving

Matthew 6:2  So when you give to the needy, so not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men....  3  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

My friend Jill posted this article about the "Christian Adoption Movement."  I guess I thought Christians adopted when they felt called by God.  Apparently the church thinks it is their place to step in and tell us to do so as well.  Can you tell I feel a little ambivalent about that?  I think God calls us to take care of the widows and orphans (among many other things), and I think that can be done in many different ways.

I have thought about adoption, if it might be right for us.  I have thought about fostering, if that might be right for us.  I have thought of giving every single extra penny we have away and is God really calling me to that?  I have been exposed to so many different avenues of giving to God's kingdom.  You just cannot be involved in every one.

And the little boy in this article gave me something to think about.  He said that people want others to see the good things they do.  Wise for a little guy, no?  The church wants Christians to be seen taking care of the world.  We want to be acknowledged for the ways we give, the good things we do as individuals.  But I don't really think that God had it in mind for us to be lavished with praise for following this command of His.  He will honor us, He will reward us for making this world a better place, maybe for the world to see, maybe not.  But I want to be giving only because God calls me to, not because I want to show off for the world.

People are going to see sometimes.  You might be the one doing the work.  You might be physically serving the needy.  I am not saying we should be secretive and try to hide our giving from others.  But that the focus of our hearts should be giving to honor God and follow His commands.  Make my heart only for you Father, make You my sole focus, so only You get all the praise and all the glory.