How To Be A Good Giver

1. Give to God's glory (Matthew 5:14-16).

Quote: "When a man (and woman) lives for the glory of God, he stops looking for affirmation from other human beings after every good deed, a pat on the head every time he does his duty. Instead, he throws himself into his role unselfishly. He contents himself with knowing he is fulfilling his purpose in this world and pleasing the God who made him. His reward comes when he is able to say, as the Scottish Olympian and missionary Eric Liddell said, "When I run, I feel his pleasure."  - Stephen Mansfield

2. Avoid making righteous living about yourself.

• Matthew 6:1

3. Prepare to be open-handed.

• Matthew 6:2

• Deuteronomy 15:10-11

• Leviticus 19:9-10

• Deuteronomy 24:19-21

• Deuteronomy 26:12-13

• Proverbs 19:17

4. Give from the right motive.

• Matthew 6:3

• Matthew 22:37-39

5. Give yourself to the Lord first.

• Matthew 6:4

• 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Application

Revist the Gospel (1 John 4:19).

• Remind yourself that obedience is a response to God's gift of grace, not a way to earn His favor Ephesians 2:8-9).

• Practice gratitude for God's gift of salvation (2 Peter 1:9)

Prioritize your heart motives over appearances (1 Samuel 16:7; 6:4).

• This takes prayerful personal reflection and assessment.

• Determine if your "why's" are for God's glory or for your glory.

• Does it hurt your feelings when you aren't recognized or affirmed?

• Do you envy others when they are recognized in some way?

• Do you get upset or angry when you aren't asked to do a thing or help in some way?

This requires spiritual power from God (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Prayerfully ask God to give you the right motivations.

Measure/judge yourself using your love for God and others (Matthew 22:37-39).

Am I practicing righteous things from a heart of love?

Are my actions a reflection of my love for God and others?

Cultivate your private relationship with God (Matthew 6:4,6,18).

• Grow your relationship in secret before engaging publicly.

• It's the idea of putting the air mask on yourself first before helping someone else on a plane.

Quote: "A man (and woman) are meant to carry such responsibility that he will descend into exhaustion and resentment if he does not have the inner resources that come from living in connection with God. As much as we may try, we cannot do what we are assigned to do without strength and energy beyond our own." - Stephen Mansfield

Remember that God is the gift giver. We are merely re-gifters. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26a; 12:1, 13).