Lenten Devotional: February 19, 2026

by Chad Simonds

Giving and the Art of Impulse Control

Read: Matthew 6: 1-4 

“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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

God calls us to be generous without being boastful. But there is another aspect of “giving in secret” that we overlook. When the right hand gives, how often does the left hand second-guess our own generosity? The season of Lent is often framed as being all about sacrifice. But look out for concept creep; sacrifice is often distilled further into being merely about impulse control. Impulse control is good, but it cuts both ways. When it comes to generosity, are there moments in your life when your “impulse control” interferes with what God calls us to do?

Call to Action:  No, don’t cut off your left hand – bad idea! Better idea… Identify a moment or moments in your life when the act of giving felt less than generous. Which “hand” was in control? Have you felt conflicted by the impulse to give, or conversely, the lack of impulse to give?

I find 2 Corinthians helpful here.

2 Corinthians 9: 6-11 NIV Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;

their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.