How often have we been reminded about our obligation or the need to contribute to the mission of Christ with our time, talents, and finances? Often this discussion is accompanied with a dash of guilt and a call of honor and duty.  If you haven’t experienced this, then you are blessed. Those of us that have grown up in the modern evangelical church could most likely recite the sales pitch in a blink of an eye.

 I bring this up, because I was reading through Matthew and in the 23^rd Chapter there is a story that lends something to this topic.  In the passage Jesus is sharing a meal with some religious leaders and he offends them by not observing a ceremonious act of the day, washing of the hands before a meal.  They chastise Jesus for not following the convention of the day.  What happens is the indignant Jesus that we rarely talk about addresses the Pharisees.   He calls them out; by comparing their actions to washing of a cup and that they are only cleaning the outside, while leaving the inside filthy.  I can only imagine the tension in the room.  He goes on to tell them that is better to have pure motive and heart than to do good to be respected or out of duty.  There it was in black and white, deeds based on duty and need is dead in God’s eyes if it isn’t in your heart.  I believed for years that it was better to give, give, give and eventually my heart would fall in line.  I admit it; there were times that I even gave from guilt when I wasn’t right with God.    

I was first challenged by this when I saw a close friend’s lives this in his life.  He refused to engage in key roles or ceremonies, because he did not feel that he could, because it wasn’t out of a pure heart.  I first didn’t really get this and would suggest giving which would lead to God working those things out, but he never gave in.  Now I can see the wisdom in my brother’s reservation.  God doesn’t want my tithes, offerings and time.  He wants my heart.   I mention all of this to challenge you, as I have and still today to challenge myself in the area of giving.  Why do you give is it because you are required or because you love the Lord?