How Secret Giving Transforms Hearts | Deep Dive 5

Have you ever noticed how good it feels when someone acknowledges your generosity? There's nothing wrong with appreciation, but Jesus points us toward a more profound way of giving—one that happens in secret, away from public praise.

The Kingdom Practice of Secret Giving

In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus teaches something revolutionary about generosity: "When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret." This isn't just about being humble. It's about transforming how we see others and ourselves.

When we give without recognition, something beautiful happens. We begin to see people differently—not as projects or problems to solve, but as fellow image-bearers of God.

How Secret Giving Transforms Hearts

Pastor Brad highlighted that in Jesus' time, some people would literally announce their charitable giving with trumpets! While we might not use actual trumpets today, social media posts about our generosity can serve the same purpose.

The problem isn't the giving—it's the motivation. When we give to be seen by others, we've already received our reward: human approval. But when we give in secret, we create space for God to work in unexpected ways:

1. We learn to value people for who they are, not how they make us feel

2. We break free from needing others' approval

3. We experience the joy of participating in God's kingdom work without earthly reward

   
   

Moving Beyond Transactions

As Proverbs 19:17 reminds us, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD." This completely changes our understanding of generosity. It's not a financial transaction—it's a spiritual act of worship.

True almsgiving isn't about what we offer from our wallets but about how we see with our hearts. It's about recognizing the image of God in everyone we encounter and responding with generous love.

This Week's Challenge

How might your giving change if no one ever knew about it? Try these practical steps:

• Give something this week that absolutely no one will know about

• Look for ways to offer more than money—perhaps your time, skills, or advocacy

• Practice seeing people as God sees them—with dignity, worth, and potential

When secret giving transforms hearts, we experience the upside-down economics of God's kingdom—where generosity creates not depletion but abundance, where the secret acts of love become the most powerful.

Join us next Sunday as we conclude our "Thy Kingdom Come" series and discover how these spiritual disciplines come together to create a life fully alive in God's kingdom!