[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 6:3 - 4 NIV
I used to be amongst the intelligent group of students in my class in junior high school. And during almost every class exercise, I used to have a competitor who was always concerned about scoring a higher mark than I. Because I didn’t know how to boycott the spirit of competition at that young age, I also got enthused with his behaviour and started studying more, just to please people and teach some average students out of arrogance. Today, such a trace is no more in my life because God has defined my purpose. And as I fulfil it by divine enablement, I’m not concerned with how better I’m doing in the ministry than others. I’m just focused on what God has called me to do, and I love it. Jesus changed my story.
I woke up one morning only to see how Jesus explained how we must give to the needy in Matthew 6 without letting the whole world know about it. During his time on Earth, some people used to make a public show of their giving merely to show others that they were rich. But He said, “… when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” In other words, giving in God’s kingdom, especially to the needy, ought to be so private that people shouldn’t hear about it. But why? Because God rewards secret givers.
Yes, Jesus may have spoken about financial giving. But I see more than that in the scripture. It could be counsel to an ignorant person about a struggling area in his life or another form of non-financial help. Will you publicise what you did for the person, or you’ll keep it secretive even if he’s ungrateful to you?
This current generation is filled with too much selfishness, so much so that people pay media houses to broadcast donations for popularity. You don’t need the whole world to know that good deed you did for others. No! God will reward your secret labours even if nobody congratulates you. It’s not everything you must post on social media or the web. Learn to obey God’s principles in your private life because you’ll not lose your heavenly reward.
You’re a blessing.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for showing us that faithfulness to Your Word in secrecy is worthy enough for You to see and reward. Refresh my thinking pattern on giving, such that everything I do unto Your glory will be out of a genuine heart with zero selfish ambitions. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Devotional Code: KGD – 2023 – 208