Giving is a lifestyle born of love, contained in love and expressed in love. Because it is love at its very core, it demands to be shared generously out of its own abundance, as decided in the heart of the giver, unto Love (God). And because of the intimacy of love, giving asks to be treated intimately as well…in a whisper, so as not to draw attention to the giver, but to Love. Give silently…
5. Give Silently
To understand what giving silently means, let us look into the below mirror:
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4
Verse 2 of the above passage in the amplified version reads:
“So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.
Giving silently therefore is giving with the intention of being recognized by God and not by men. This is the type of giving that is acceptable to God.
Let us revisit the story of the woman who gave all she had:
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:41-44
Contrast the manner in which the rich people gave with the manner in which the poor widow gave. One threw in their offerings, while the other put in her offering. Imagine the attention that was drawn to the wealthy as they threw in their offerings…imagine the noise that their gold coins made…imagine the smile on their faces as they drew attention to themselves. Now imagine the poor widow putting in her coins. No sound was made, nothing to draw the attention of those in the temple. Yet her silent giving was loud enough to draw the attention of her Creator. Her silent giving is loud enough to be heard over 2000 years later by generations still unborn.
Your Turn
…For the Lord does not see as man sees;for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
The manner in which you give acts as a megaphone for the state of your heart. It amplifies your inner most thoughts and intents.
What is your intention when you give? Is it to draw attention to yourself? Is it to draw the recognition and praise of others? Is it to manipulate others? Is it perhaps to buy loyalty?
Be not mistaken, all giving speaks. It speaks to you, it speaks to those around you and most of all, it speaks to the original Giver. When your giving speaks to God, what does it say to Him? Does it speak love or does it speak pride? And what do the words of your giving reveal about the state of your heart?
Will you make this your prayer?
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psaln 139:23-24