Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. (NIV)

One of my family’s favorite movies is “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray. It’s about a man who lives the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day. We watch it together every February and can recite just about every line in the movie. It’s just one of those movies for us.  

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Throughout the movie, we watch the main character, Phil, played by Bill Murray, start to evolve from a self-absorbed weather man to a man who is truly caring and likeable. He is on a journey from a life of mindlessness and selfishness to a life of mindfulness and selflessness.  

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At the beginning, there is only one redeemable character in the whole movie: Rita, the producer sent to capture the story of Punxsutawney Phil, the community’s faithful groundhog. There is a scene in the movie where the character Larry is hitting on Nancy in a bar. He’s buying her a drink and drops a huge tip when it’s time to leave. But, as soon as she turns away, he grabs the tip back and pockets it.  

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This reminds me of the pharisees Jesus is speaking of in our verse today. They practice their righteousness – their giving, kind deeds, and such – so that others may see what they are doing and think more highly of them. Just as Larry was trying to impress Nancy, the Pharisees were trying to impress those around them.  

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Larry’s only reward was getting his money back; Nancy saw right through him and wanted nothing to do with him. The Pharisees only reward was the admiration of man. Why does this matter?

While Larry was the same character at the end of the movie as at the beginning, Phil is a different story. Why? Because he was on a journey. He lived the same day over and over again, so he could see where his failings were and be better. As he realizes that this is his life, he begins to think about what he could do with this “endless” time. He takes piano lessons, saves a kid, learns poetry, saves the mayor, and generally befriends the entire community – in one day. At the beginning, he uses this time to get to know personal things about Rita – and not for “righteous” reasons, if you know what I mean… But over time, Phil’s motives changed. Rita was an amazing example of the kind of person he could be. I think he saw a better way – a bigger way – to live his life, and his motives changed.  

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And that’s the same for us in our generosity. It’s all a question of motive…WHY are we giving of our resources – time, money, services? Are we doing it for the approval of man or the approval of God? Are we doing these things because we think God demands this of us to be a part of his family and live life eternal with him?  

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As Phil got to know Rita more and more, he began to fall in love with her. He wanted to do good things, not to impress her, but because she showed him a better way. He truly loved her because she didn’t have selfish motives. She was kind and wanted to be with him for the sake of being with him – not for what he could do for her. She trusted him, and he grew to trust her.  

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Okay, admittedly, that’s a very simplistic way to look at our relationship with God, but I think it has merit. Are we Larry, doing things to look good to those around us? To check the box? To just get by? Or are we Phil (at the end of the movie) doing and giving and loving for the sake of love?  

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God loves you so much he died for you – but you know what? He also likes you and wants good things for you. He wants your heart as fully enthralled with him as he is with you. Trust him with your resources and see how much he loves you – not because he needs your resources, but because he wants your whole heart.  

Heavenly Father, open our hands. Help us to live generously, not because we want to look good in peoples’ eyes, but because we trust you. Show us where we can take that first step of generosity. In the powerful and loving name of Jesus ~ AMEN!