GOD rewards What we DO for HIM in Secret @ A Moment of Eternal News.
Matthew 6:1-4 (NASB)
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
There is saying that “Love is not love, until you give it away”. Love is simply measured not by how many times you utter with your lips “I love you” but by how much you had given for the one you love. GOD set us the example by how much we have to give. HE had given His begotten Son as the ultimate expression of His love for us (John 3:16). Jesus had shown His love by giving not only all His breath but His entire life for us, serving us and died for us. He even measured this kind of giving as the greatest love (John 15:13).
While we cannot love without giving, the reality is we always give without loving. In this world, giving is practiced just to meet the standard of becoming a good person and indeed is so laborious. We are expected to do all the good things we can, by all the means we can, by all the ways we can, in all the places we can, in all times we can, to all people we can. The very reason for giving is that we want to live and meet those expectations. We do it and flaunt it so that we gain the attention of everyone we want to please. We can not deny that we want to impress others and seek recognition and appreciation.
In our works, we race to achieve “Employee of the Month Award”. In schools, parents and students hope for recognition too as there are lots of awards to look for; “Student of the Month” and “Principal’s and Honors Award” just to name few. Even inside our home, we give higher regards to whoever contributes the most whether with the paying of the bills or some house chores. In the church, it is common to see Christians who give the most but also seek attention and appreciation. They even flaunt when their names are written on the walls of the church or by seeing their names in the newsletters.
The sad truth is that many love themselves not the others when they extend help, expecting something in return for themselves. They are enslaving themselves with their own greed to establish their own righteousness for recognition purposes. It’s common for us even those who called themselves Christians, to boast about how much they donate, how much work they do in the church, how much hungry mouth they feed, how good they sing in the choir, how many times they attend service on Sundays, in short, how spiritual they are. Maybe, we’ve all been guilty of this deportment. We are all exposed by this temptations; feeling good to be recognized and appreciated for our devotions.
I called it “sad truth” because many do this for this life in this world only. Their hopes and dreams of being recognized are for this temporary life alone. If indeed we are thinking of eternal life, we will give without expecting anything from this world. We will avoid being praised. We will find a way to serve in secret because we know that only what is done in secret matters to GOD. That is the only thing that has the reward from Him. Jesus Christ said that if we are praised for our good acts, we have already our reward in full.
Sad truth because the same effort is entitled to two very different rewards. Different rewards depend on the motives of serving. If it is for oneself glory, the reward is in this life alone, but if the serving is for the glory of GOD, the reward is eternal. Scripture says, rewards for our good actions from heaven cannot be compared by the rewards that from this world.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Sad truth because many are foolish to put their suffering in vain. Our recognition and achievement here on earth without eternal purpose is a foolishness for GOD. Saint Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Not only foolishness, but Saint Paul also called it to something to be pitied for those Christians who are dreaming to make a dent on this universe to make them known. He said in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is calling us to be really wise. We have to make the investment that will give us sure good returns. Good returns should be everlasting and everlasting return comes from GOD Almighty alone. Do everything for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31). In all things on earth, we should do it not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever we do, do our work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord we will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom we serve, not men but through men, for GOD’s glory, not ours but through us. AMEN
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