“Give In Secret”

YEAH! Church - Sunday, May 29, 2022

"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Give In Secret”

Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti2GlJp4kF0 (Kids’ Talk Video – Being Humble)

Giving to the Needy
Matthew 6:1-4, NLT

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Jesus tells us that it is good to give to those in need, but not to do so to make yourself look good in the eyes of others. We do good to make God happy and to show that we are part of his family, not so that people will take notice of us and talk about how wonderful we are. If we help the needy, but do so for the wrong reasons...to get others to notice us…then Jesus tells us that their attention is the only reward we will get. However, if you do good things to help others, even if no one knows you’ve done it, God will reward you because your desire is to obey God by showing kindness to others.

Engage:
• In Jesus’ day some people made a big show about the money they gave to help others. They even blew trumpets to get everyone’s attention! What did Jesus call this kind of giving?
• Jesus told us that when we do things for people’s attention, people’s attention is the only reward we get. What did Jesus say was a better way to do good?
• Sometimes we think that if we do good in secret no one will know. But who does Jesus tell us will know? What will he do?

Weekly verse:
Matthew 6:18b, NLT – “…your Father…knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Prayer – Dear God, thank you that we can be kind and don’t need to concern ourselves with who takes notice, because we know that you’re the only One whose opinion matters. Help me to do good and be generous for the right reasons and not so that others will notice.
~ Pastor Jane