Week 4, Friday, January 29
Text: Matthew 6:3-4
"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.”
Thought for the day:
There are times when we will want others to know our accomplishments. If you have ever interviewed for a new job, you interviewer probably asked about previous employment and successful accomplishments. When a church is hosting an outreach event, they will probably want to advertise it to the community so that people will attend. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:17 that His followers should let their good deeds shine before others, so that God will be praised.
However, there are other times, when our deeds should be done in secret. Jesus says this is true, especially when we are responding to the needs of others. We do not need to have every good deed known by others, because God knows our deeds, and we are promised that when we serve Him in secrecy, He gives us rewards. I am confident that His rewards are better than the congratulations that we might receive from other people who know us.
Journal/Exercise:
This weekend, perform an act of kindness for someone, and never tell them that you were the one who did it. I would prefer you to respond to a need of someone in your community. If you have a neighbor who has difficulty shoveling snow, clear their driveway at night. If you have a neighbor who is struggling with an illness, deliver a meal to their home. Be creative in how you can serve someone. If you cannot avoid revealing your identity, then be discreet, and avoid telling others of your service. See how this secret act of kindness is received by God.
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