“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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:1-5
At some stage in our lives most of us have enjoyed a night at the theater, watching a musical production and been captivated by an actor’s performance. We need to be careful when we are trying to be good and do good for others, that we are not turning it into a Shakespearean master piece, a performance which draws attention to ourselves. When helping someone out don’t think about how you’re going to look or sound the trumpet like the hypocrites, “JUST DO IT”.
We have a choice? We can be drawn into the contemporary religious stage full of emotion, feelings and hype or we can draw closer to Jesus to ensure what we do for others is out of the right motive “Love”. The kind of Love that put Christ on the cross at Calvary. A love without any expectations, want or need. A Love that never fails, boasts or draws attention to itself.
Application: Try and find some time today in a quiet place to bring your focus back onto Jesus. Don’t be afraid to tell Him how much you love Him and give Him all the thanks and glory for all he has done and will do in your life. Take a moment to encourage a friend or a stranger not for self recognition but out of the love of Christ in you, that he might be recognized through you. “JUST DO IT” and then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
God Bless your Friends in Christ
Southside Christian Fellowship