This study is divided into several topics as outlined in Matthew 6. I believe Matthew 6 covers areas that if we allow the Holy Spirit to develop them in our lives we will have a “Balanced Christian Life”. The topics are; giving of alms, prayer, forgiving each other, fasting, OUR Treasure, helping the poor, God Vs. riches, depending on God’s provision, seeking the Kingdom of God. 1. Giving of Alms. Matthew 6:1-4 covers the proper attitude we should have when we give something good to others. “Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you will get no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore when you do give alms do not sound a trumpet before you give, as the hypocrites do in the churches and the streets, that you may receive glory from men. For verily I say unto you, that is the only reward you will receive. But when you give alms do not let your left hand know what you right hand is doing. Instead give your alms in secret: and your Father who sees your secret giving shall reward you openly.” As believers our giving is usually in the form of tithes and offerings. I will not get into any discussion about tithing except to say that we are under grace. The fact that we had no hope of redemption, God demonstrated his grace towards us by sending our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Since we have been purchased by the precious blood (1 Corinthians 7:23) of our Lord Jesus Christ, tithing should not be an issue. “You are bought with a price therefore do not become servants of men.” But if we do or do not tithe the proper attitude towards giving is in 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says; “for God loves a cheerful giver”. “Every man according to the purpose in his heart, let him not give grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.” So being redeemed sinners under grace our giving should start with the tithe. But if a person cannot give willingly or cheerfully then they should keep their money. Don’t even think about accepting the challenge that God gave in Malachi 3:10 & 11 unless you are able to give willingly and cheerfully. “Bring all your tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing to you where there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer (the world, the flesh, and the devil) for your sake, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.”  The major topic in Matthew 6:1-4 is not what you give but how you give. It is interesting that this chapter starts with an area that is near and dear to most of us and that is giving our (our?) possessions. The verses describe the proper motive we should have and the motive is not looking for attention or something in return. There are other principals in this chapter that describe similar attitudes that we should allow the Holy Spirit to develop in our spiritual character. It is important that our lives are lived with a pure heart and not for the purpose of us becoming the focus of attention. Acts 5:1-11 is a fatal story about giving where Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also privy to it, brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled you heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Since you were giving it freely, after it was sold was it not in your power to give part of the money you received? You did not lie before men but you lied before God. Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost. When Sapphira his wife came in later, Peter said unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much, how is it that you agreed with your husband to tempt the Spirit of the Lord. Then immediately she fell down at his feet, yielding up the ghost:” If you are giving to get (a return or attention and praise) verse 1 says you have already received your reward. If you tithe believing that God will make you prosperous, if you do or do not become prosperous your motive is wrong and there will be no further reward for you of your Father which is in heaven for either the tithe or the prosperity. What would you prefer; prosperity with the wrong attitude here on earth, or standing before our Lord at the Judgment Seat hearing these words, “Well done thy good and precious servant”? When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments they were divided into two parts; the first part was our relationship with God, the second part was our relationship with each other. The next topic in Chapter 6 is prayer. We know prayer is our direct communication with God and for our prayers to be effective we must have the proper attitude and relationship with him. The ten commandments implies that our relationship with God  must come first before our relationship with each other. (” Exodus 20:1-11 ‘You shall have no other gods before you:’ ‘You shall not make or worship any graven image or idol:’ ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain:’ ‘You shall keep the Sabbath of the Lord thy God and make it holy:’) (Exodus 20:12-17 ‘Honor your father and mother:’ ‘You shall not kill:’ ‘You shall not commit adultery:’ ‘You shall not steal:’ ‘You shall not bear false witness:’ ‘You shall not covet:’)  Is the Holy Spirit through Matthew saying that if our prayers are to be effective we must first have an attitude of being the Lord’s servant (1 Corinthians 7:22) which actually makes us a “freeman”, therefore we should make sure there is nothing in our lives that hinders our relationship with each other? “For you that is called in the Lord, being a servant, you become the Lord’s freeman: (freedom from the penalty of sin and through the power of the Holy Spirit you can become free of the power of sin) likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.” Consider that if we have the security of knowing we are a “freeman” then giving in accordance with Matthew 6:1-4 should become natural to us and the our hearts are prepared when we approach our Heavenly Father in prayer. Send me any comments or questions you have.

Reference verses for further study:
Matt 23:5 – Be careful to practice what you preach especially for people in leadership or make sure the Word is reflected in your life.

Col 3:23-24 – Give everything you have to live in accordance with the Word so that your life will be conformed according to His image.

Matt 11:24-25 – We must be very careful especially today because we have much more knowledge of God that when people were alive in the time of our Lord, and we have God’s written word in many different forms

Luke 18:10-14 –  The only reward you will have will be only your praise especially if you think that you are better than others.

Ecc 5:2 – Solomon says we should be careful of what we say and how we say it. The book of James has much to say how dangerous a tongue is when it is out of control.

I Kings 18:26-29 – A classis example of how we can think that move God through action, demonstrations, or much speaking. There are so many examples in the Word where simple words of faith move mountains.