When Thou Doest Thine Alms

Driving home: Second principle is that our Lord asserts that in every case, motive is all-important. For every time he deals with a situation or a different aspect of this matter of our practical expression of spiritual life, he says,…

Martin refers to a previous illustration of two men in the same place, saying the same words, but one acceptable to God and the other an abomination, to highlight the importance of motive.

All-important. Not so much what you do, but why you do it. Remember my description of the two men? The two men in the front pew here last week?

5:56 - 6:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the specific subject of almsgiving from Matthew 6:2-4, defining it as an expression of mercy. He explains it in both a limited sense (physical giving) and a…

The lame man asking alms in Acts 3:2 is used as a biblical example of physical need and the limited sense of almsgiving.

In Acts 3 verse 2, you remember the lame man who sat at the gate of the temple asking alms? Here he was, unable to make a living, and the great society had not yet come into existence, and so he had to sit at the gate of the temple asking alms. And so there he was, looking for physical sustenance. And in its most limited sense, this is what the Lord is talking about.

8:13 - 8:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the negative command: 'Do not sound a trumpet before thee.' Martin identifies the hypocrites as scribes and Pharisees, explaining their motivation was to gain…

The custom of sounding a trumpet before giving alms is discussed, whether literal or figurative, to illustrate the hypocrites' desire for public attention.

Here are the hypocrites, and they're going to be the negative example. Now, what did they do? Well, our Lord says they would sound a trumpet before them in the synagogues and in the streets. Now, in trying to check this out, whether they actually had a man with a trumpet go before them and blow it, as we know a trumpet, it's hard to find if such a custom was in practice.

12:35 - 12:58 Read in full sermon

Driving home: No man is basically a man pleaser. He's either a God pleaser or a self pleaser.

The scenario of a 'citizen of the year' receiving an award with 'feigned humility' illustrates how people seek and receive human glory, which is their only reward.

Verily I say unto you, the latter part of verse 2, they have right now their reward. The only reward they wanted in the expression of mercy as they gave their alms was to see the man before whom they sounded the trumpet, stand around and whisper one to another, aren't they wonderful? Look how they respond to human need. And when they would elect the citizen of the year in that community and Joe, whoever he was, got elected and he stood with feigned humility and said, I am unworthy of such an honor.

14:52 - 15:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your giving be with such a single eye to the glory of God that you do not even keep a mental ledger to commend yourself to God or others.

A story of a woman complaining about her unrecognized service to the church illustrates the danger of doing good works to be seen and then pouting when not acknowledged.

Let me illustrate this. I'm always suspicious of someone who comes and says, Would you know, Pastor, I've given some of the best hours of my time and the best days of my life to the church and no one's ever expressed their gratitude to me. But what you're saying is, I did these works to be seen and I haven't been seen and I'm going to pout. Isn't that it?

24:23 - 24:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your giving be with such a single eye to the glory of God that you do not even keep a mental ledger to commend yourself to God or others.

A story of a woman claiming her good works for a church and money given, despite harboring hate, illustrates how people use works to justify themselves and reveal a wrong motivation.

I had a woman tell me a couple of years ago. She had a particular need, spiritual need, and I was trying to zero in on her. She said she hated someone and I said, Listen, you be careful talking that way. I said, If you really mean that, listen to what God says and I turned this woman to 1 John 3.

24:51 - 25:08 Read in full sermon

The point: If serving in ministry (pastor, missionary), be motivated by the Father who sees in secret, so that you can endure criticism and ingratitude without quitting or retaliating.

Martin uses the example of a pastor or missionary to illustrate that without the motivation of the Father's secret eye, one would either quit or 'bite back' when facing ingratitude or criticism.

And how subtle is this attitude of giving our alms, of giving our tithes, of giving our missionary pledge, of giving a tract, of giving a sermon, of giving of our time for a Sunday school class, giving of our time and interest and sweat and blood to some work that is noble in itself. But oh, beloved, what's our motive? Are we doing it in the light of the Father who sees in secret with one longing that we may have His approbation, His approval, His recompense? Frankly, if I didn't believe this, I'd go into something far more lucrative, humanly speaking, than being a pastor.

26:19 - 27:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Beloved, if I could hear these words, I don't care what else I have to hear or don't hear. Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Martin uses the humorous image of 'seven crowns on my head' looking like 'a stack of pizza pies' to critique overly literal or speculative interpretations of biblical rewards.

And I frankly feel that in this whole matter of rewards, there is no reward for a father to an obedient son. In these rewards, there has been a lot of foolishness. These people that talk about the seven different crowns, the crown of this and the crown of that, how in the world would I get seven crowns on my head? Well, I'd look like a stack of pizza pies or something.

29:13 - 29:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains the promise: 'thy Father who seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.' He clarifies this reward is for obedient children of God, not for salvation, and…

The surprise of the 'sheep' in Matthew 25, asking 'When did we see you...?', beautifully illustrates giving with no thought of self-recognition, letting the left hand not know what the right hand does.

And the king shall answer and say to them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye've done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye've done it unto me. Ah, do you see a beautiful illustration?

33:23 - 33:34 Read in full sermon