Humble Gifts

Rev. Paul J. Miller – Sermon Outline – January 28, 2018

Series Title: “This is What Change Looks Like”

Today’s Title: “Humble Gifts”

Today’s Text: Matthew 6:1-4

BE A HUMBLE GIVER

1. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR MOTIVATION (v1)

• “Be careful” – why do you give? really?
• “to be seen by them” – people pleasing
• “no reward from your Father” – God pleasing

2. THE GIFT IS NOT ABOUT THE GIVER (v2)

• “when you give” – giving is assumed
• “to the needy” – same attitude should apply to all offerings
  • Mark 12:41-44
• “trumpets” – a fast was sometimes announced by trumpets and set the stage for givers to draw attention to themselves

3. GOD SEES, AND THAT IS ENOUGH (v3-4)

• “in secret” – discrete, simple, quiet, anonymous
• “your Father, who sees” – God knows what we give and why we give it
• “will reward you” – Nothing can buy the approval of God

Question to consider about humble giving:

• Am I overly concerned with what others think, or might think, about me?
• Do I expect people thank me, to notice what I give, or to be honored for it?

Is knowing that God sees my giving all the reward that I need?