December 14
Scripture: Matt 6:1
Source author: James Stuart Bell
December 14
Quiet Servant Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. —Matthew 6:1
Parents love it when daughters tell them how much their spouses care for them. My oldest daughter, Rosheen, was describing her husband, Mike, and one thing she said struck me as significant. “He does a lot of good things that nobody knows about.” I wanted to ask what those deeds were, but that would somehow defeat his very purpose. There are dozens of needs surrounding us, yet we often address those that will bring us recognition. If we love, we want to be seen as a loving person. Jesus speaks in hyperbole when He says that when we give to others, we shouldn’t even let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. That’s a strict standard, but if we aren’t concerned about the rewards here, we will certainly receive them in heaven. My daughter recently had a skiing accident that will provide Mike with many more opportunities for service. But let’s keep that hush-hush.
Acts of love done in secret will keep us humble. — James Stuart Bell —