Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:4
Every day, Glen purchases his morning coffee at a nearby drive-through. And every day he also pays for the order of the person in the car behind him, asking the cashier to wish that person a good day. Glen has no connection to them. He’s not aware of their reactions; he simply believes this small gesture is “the least he can do.” On one occasion, however, he learned of the impact of his actions when he read an anonymous letter to the editor of his local newspaper. He discovered that the kindness of his gift on July 18, 2017, caused the person in the car behind him to reconsider their plans to take their own life later that day.
Glen gives daily to the people in the car behind him without receiving credit for it. Only on this single occasion did he get a glimpse of the impact of his small gift. When Jesus says we should “not let [our] left hand know what [our] right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), He’s urging us to give—as Glen does—without need for recognition.
When we give out of our love for God, without concern for receiving the praise of others, we can trust that our gifts—large or small—will be used by Him to help meet the needs of those receiving them.
Giving to the Needy
6 1 “Becarefulnottopracticeyourrighteousnessinfrontofothers
tobeseenbythem.gIfyou do, youwillhavenorewardfromyourFatherinheaven.
2 “Sowhenyou give to the needy, donotannounceitwithtrumpets,
asthehypocritesdointhesynagoguesandonthestreets,tobehonoredbyothers.
TrulyItellyou, theyhavereceivedtheirrewardinfull.
3 Butwhenyougive to the needy,
donotletyourlefthandknowwhatyourrighthandisdoing,
4 sothatyourgivingmaybeinsecret. ThenyourFather,
whoseeswhatisdoneinsecret, willrewardyou.h
INSIGHT
- How have you benefited from someone’s anonymous giving?
- How can you give more “in secret”?
As believers in Jesus, Paul told us we’re to live differently from nonbelievers. Our lives are to be holy—set apart and devoted to God (Ephesians 4:20–24). Our speech is to be characterized by words that are truthful and that help, edify, build up, encourage, and benefit others (vv. 25, 29). Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we’ll put away unwholesome and abusive language, along with bitter, angry, harsh, slanderous, or malicious words (vv. 29–31). How we forgive others is the defining virtue of believers in Jesus. We’re to forgive as God has forgiven us (v. 32; Colossians 3:13). The evidence that we’re forgiven by the Father is when we’re willing to forgive others, for the forgiven believer in Jesus is a forgiving person (Matthew 6:12, 14–15; 18:21–35; Luke 7:36–50).
PRAYER
Father, thank You for using me to meet the needs of others and for meeting my needs through them. Help me not to seek credit when I give but to do so in a way that gives You the glory. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 17-18; John 13:1-20
