Heaven Approved Doogooding - 6/2/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

On the one hand, there are those that think to go to Heaven they have to do more good deeds than bad deeds, sort of trying to buy their way into Heaven.

On the other hand, though, there are those who so want to receive applause from other people, they do their good works and give primarily to impress other people and be thought of as a good person by them.

Read Matthew 6:1-4

The words translated reward are misthos (G3408), which occurs 28 times in the N.T., and apodidomai (G591), which occurs 46 times. ‘Reward’ occurs 9 times in rhe Sermon on the Mount, 7 in chapter 6 alone.

Motivation for giving that Heaven will NOT reward V. 1-2

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. -Matt. 5:16 (ESV)

Wrong motivation for doing good works for others is to bring praise to yourself by other people. That may bring you temporal gain in their eyes, but not eternal gain in Heaven’s eyes.

Do you do what you do first and foremost for the glory of God, or for your own personal benefit?

Now if you can keep the motivation to glorify God first, and not steal the glory away from him, it is an encouragement for others to see you glorifying God with your giving, and know enough to pray for you, and for leaders to know enough to coordinate with others to see that needs are properly vetted and appropriately met.

Jesus here says that if your motivation for doing good is the “photo-op,” you may get earthly pats on the back but not heavenly reward.

The way to give that Heaven will approve and reward V. 3-4

Notice Jesus assumes we will be looking for opportunities to use our resources to help minister to people. He says “when you give,” not “if you give.”

Jesus instructs us on the “how” to give and do good deeds – as secretly as possible, without fanfare that draws attention to yourself.

What a fun illustration from Jesus about not making a big deal about giving before the people we are always around. Jesus wanted giving to be for God in a spirit of joy and not a sense of “Keeping up with the Jones.”

Jesus’ words here do not mean that we shouldn’t celebrate giving in the body of Christ. Acts 4:36-37 celebrates the very generous gift that Barnabas gave; Acts 9:36 celebrates a lady named Tabitha, known for being ‘full of good works and acts of charity.’ The key is that we let others praise us, and not ourselves.

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” -Proverbs 27:2 (ESV)

Even if no one else sees what you do for God, God sees and promises to reward you at the Bema seat of Christ.

If the work which anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. -1 Cor. 3:14 (ESV)