Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Sacramental Life – Day 362 – Matthew 6-1-4 – Sound No Trumpet – Growing As Disciples
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV)
Credit
Do you need credit? Are you seeking recognition? Must you have worldly rewards for the good things you do for others, in this life? Those are all very good questions. Why do you think I have asked good questions? It is good for me to evaluate my motives, not once and a while, but every day as I follow and serve you. What are your motives? I will say what I think is true. I will say what I hope is true. I am serving you because I love you. It is my desire to know and do your will. It is my pleasure to go and do what you ask of me. I am certainly not serving or giving with the hope or desire to receive worldly recognition and rewards. That would be foolish. Why is that? Life in this world is like a snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. Every reward given in this life will soon be left behind. I brought nothing into this world. I will take nothing out of this world. That is only partly true. Why is that only partly true? You can store up treasure in heaven with me. Make no mistake about it, you will be one day be rewarded for everything that you did for me in this life. I have no doubt about that. I do want to say something. I do want to make one thing very clear. What’s that? First, let me say that I am aware of that fact that you will have rewards waiting for me when I come to heaven to live with you. I would also like to say that I am not serving you with even the hope of heavenly rewards. I won’t turn them done. But I prefer to think that I am serving you and doing good things in this life only because I love you. That is enough for me. I need or want nothing more. I want to know your will. I want to go and do what is pleasing to you. I want to live my life with and for you both now and forever. Could anything be better? Could I ask for more. I think not. So, it is my prayer that you will show me where you want me to go and give me what you want me to do. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is enough, because I love you and I know that you love me. My life is in your hands. I am at your service. That is very good. You will have all that you have asked of me. Thank you, Heavenly Father. Amen
Heavenly Father, it is my delight to serve you. I am not serving you because I am seeking recognition or rewards from the world. I am serving you because I love you. I delight in doing your will. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen
Key Question… When have you done something extravagantly generous without any desire for recognition or reward?
Living It Out… Give quietly and anonymously and generously to others without seeking reward or recognition.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father will one day reward you for the work you have done for Him.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are learning to give to others without receiving recognition.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you quietly and anonymously and generously give to others.
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