What’s Your Motivation For Giving?

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Matthew 6:1-5 (ESV)

What motivates you to give to those who are in need? Giving should be natural and a part of our human experience. But, for many it’s not natural and it’s not something a lot of people willingly like to do. Whether it be giving their time, money, gifts/talents, etc., there are many who do not want to give to others who are in need.

However, when we seek to share with others, do we have the right motivation? Of course, any amount of help will be wanted by organizations whose aim is to service their fellow human beings. But internally one can ask themselves, what is my motivation? Is it to see what can be gained monetarily? To see if there will be recognition or be viewed as someone pious and important? Or is it to impress others and gain the attention of a special individual? Hopefully, regardless of one’s motivation in the beginning, eventually, it will turn into a true desire to help someone in need.

In Matthew 6: 1-5, God warns of seeking praise and rewards from people when we seek to do what is right by helping others. His word states when we do this, we will receive our reward from people and not from the storehouses of Heaven, not from God above.

Most people want some form of recognition for doing good from the time when they were toddlers, all the way through adulthood. And we can believe that God understands this, He knows how all of His children are wired. But when our sole motivation for doing good toward others (most of the time) is to gain some type of ego boost, God is not pleased. When giving to others, may we all eventually learn to give because it is right, and it is what God would want us to do.