"The Cheerful Giver" - To

 "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days." (Ecclesiastes 11:1 KJV)

  "Don't be misled - you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10 NLT)

 Understanding what it means to, "Don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing," we must first understand why we serve the Lord, is it out of love or is it to satisfy a personal need or passion. Do we have something of an idol, that is part of why we give or serve? If what we do is built upon, then it could be just that, an idol: which is something we place value in, as if it will bring about that which we are longing for! 

 First of all, everything belongs to God! The money we make, the life we live, the family we have been given; all that we do, whether giving or serving, it is all for Him and to Him, because it is all from Him! Therefore, if it is something that is done through us, it is His as we live out the life of Christ in our lives: He is working in us and through us. 

 After knowing that, we can then understand a little better why it is not our power that is doing the work or our money that is given away; but it is all about Him, the One who gives and takes away! Which is what makes us the cheerful giver! We are blessed to give away, as God gives us the ability to give, we are just a conduit for Him to help and bless others. 

 That might not satisfy everyone's needs to understand how giving and serving shouldn't be kept track of, as if you are counting all those you have blessed, or how much you have given; because these things are not the blessing you should keep track of, because, what you give away is between you and the Lord. But what God blesses you with, that is what makes you the cheerful giver; and that is what pleases God and cannot be taken away... 

""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. 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. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."" (Matthew 6:1-4 NLT)