Why Do You Give? Living for God's Approval Rather Than Man's Applause

In a world where social media showcases our every good deed and charitable acts often come with public recognition, Jesus challenges us to examine our deepest motivations. His words in Matthew 6:1-4 cut straight to the heart of why we do the good things we do.

The Danger of Performing for an Audience

Jesus begins this teaching with a warning: "Beware." This isn't casual advice—it's an urgent alert about spiritual danger. He warns against practicing righteousness "before other people in order to be seen by them."

This hits closer to home than we might initially think. Do we sometimes make sure others notice when we put money in the offering plate? Do we use our "holy voice" when asked to pray publicly? Do we serve others while secretly hoping for recognition or thanks?

The issue isn't the acts themselves—giving, praying, and serving are all good things. The problem lies in our motivation. Are we seeking God's approval or man's applause?

What Does Biblical Giving Look Like?

Jesus assumes his audience will give—he says "when you give," not "if you give." In his time, giving was a regular practice, not an afterthought. People gave their first fruits, trusting God before they knew how their harvest would turn out.

Four Characteristics of Biblical Giving

• Responsive: We don't give to earn God's love—we give because we already have it. Our giving flows from the abundance of grace we've received.
• Thoughtful: Like the early church, we should understand the needs around us and give intentionally, not under compulsion.
• Sacrificial: Biblical giving often requires sacrifice, trusting God to provide rather than holding back out of fear.
• God-Centered: Everything we do should ultimately bring glory to God, not ourselves.

The Secret of Secret Giving

When Jesus talks about giving "in secret," he's not necessarily saying all giving must be private. After all, he praised the widow who gave publicly at the temple. Rather, he's addressing the heart behind our giving.

Secret giving means we're not motivated by the desire to be seen, acknowledged, or thanked by others. Our audience is God alone. This frees us from the exhausting performance of trying to impress people and allows us to focus on what truly matters—our relationship with our heavenly Father.

Understanding God's Rewards

Jesus mentions rewards three times in this passage, which might make some uncomfortable. Isn't giving supposed to be selfless? But Jesus isn't promoting a "give to get" mentality. Instead, he's pointing to something much deeper.

God's rewards aren't just financial—though He may choose to provide materially. His greatest rewards are eternal: knowing Him personally, experiencing His joy, finding freedom in Christ, and receiving the abundant life He promises.

When we give with the right heart, we're freed from the bondage of money and possessions. We discover that our security, identity, and comfort come from God alone, not from what we own.

Teaching Generosity to the Next Generation

How do we pass on a heart of generosity? Here are some practical principles:

• Start small but give often: Even when we don't have much, we can give regularly in small ways, trusting that blessings are meant to flow through us.
• Give from gratitude: We give because we've already received far more than we could ever give back. Salvation in Christ surpasses any material gift.
• Begin with the first 10%: Teaching children to give their first fruits—not their leftovers—helps them understand that God comes first in everything.
• Make it about identity: Generosity teaches us that our worth isn't tied to possessions or success, but to Christ alone. It becomes a visible declaration of the gospel.

Freedom Through Giving

The cross reminds us that we don't give to earn righteousness—Jesus already provided that. We don't give to earn God's love—He already loves us completely. We give because He has given us everything.

Jesus understands what it's like to give without recognition, to sacrifice without applause. He gave everything for us, setting the example of His kingdom's way of life.

Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to give something sacrificially—not because you expect to receive tenfold in return, but to see what God might do in your heart through the act of generous giving. Whether it's money, time, or resources, give with no expectation of recognition or thanks from others.

Ask yourself these questions: Why do I do the good things I do? Am I seeking God's approval or man's applause? What would change in my giving if I truly believed that God sees everything I do in secret? How can I teach generosity to those around me, not as a transaction with God, but as a response to His abundant grace?

Remember, this isn't ultimately about creating a to-do list of religious activities. It's about recognizing our need for a Savior and allowing His grace to transform our hearts from the inside out. When we live for God's approval rather than human recognition, we discover the freedom and joy that comes from knowing our identity is secure in Christ alone.

Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash