A Life of Generosity
As Jesus was teaching people, there was a group of leaders who were not always the best role models. When these people helped others, they would boast about it and tell everybody the good deeds they did. They made sure to flaunt their good works publicly for everyone to notice them.
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:3 is directly related to what these leaders were doing. Jesus says that when we give to those in need, we shouldn’t let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. Essentially, our goal in giving to others should not be recognition.
Jesus’ teaching is about the condition of our heart. If we’re giving to others for the sake of being recognized for doing good, then we’re not helping people with the right motives. This should not stop us from giving to others, but it should guide our motives for doing so.
When we help others, we should do so primarily for their benefit—not our own. This means there’s no need to broadcast it. Instead, we should have humility when giving to the needy. We should seek to help others because of Jesus’ love for them—not because our pride, ego, or sense of obligation compels us.
Thankfully, when our giving is shaped by Jesus’ love, our posture toward giving begins to transform. 2 Corinthians 9:7 further confirms this when Paul says we should never give under compulsion or while complaining, but instead, we should be cheerful in our giving. Why? Because God loves a cheerful giver.
When we give humbly and cheerfully, it shows that our lives are being shaped by our generous God.
God’s desire is for us to become people who give to others without expecting anything in return. That’s why Jesus encourages us to give freely to others without expecting recognition or acclaim.
So take some time to think about some people in your life who are in need. How can you help them? What practical needs can you meet? Think about how you can help them this week without bringing attention to yourself.
Luke 16
“And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my Lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his Lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my Lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had ...
My True Identity
John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Many of us define ourselves by what we do. You might be a teacher, or a firefighter, or an accountant—“that’s who I am." But God’s plans often lead us outside of the very things we believe define us.
Our ultimate defining identities are not in what we do, but in who we are: children of God. It sounds simple, but it’s a deeply profound truth.
Receiving Jesus and identifying as a child of God isn’t passive. It’s not just slapping on a name tag and continuing life as usual. Taking on that identity is a daily, active decision. It means fully accepting Jesus’ love, authority, and call on our lives.
He gives us the freedom to live beyond labels, past wounds, and even seemingly good things that can hold us physically or emotionally captive. He breaks the chains of people living in poverty, addiction, or grief.
You are no longer a...