The unsung heroes of good deeds
“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” (NLT) Matthew 6:1
A friend of mine lost one of her close relatives, and she gave me a special invitation to the funeral. Normally, I go to funerals together with my friends and we usually donate as a group. This time, I went alone. I donated quite generously and due to my Christian principle, I really didn’t want it to be announced in public. However, the folks at the donation table insisted that it was very necessary that it was done, in keeping with tradition.
As a believer, if you come from such a cultural background you may find it counterintuitive when the church teaches we ought not to broadcast our good deeds in public (Read Matthew 6:1-4). However, if you understand that doing your good deeds in secret is what will guarantee the Lord’s blessing then you can embrace that principle without reservation.
You see, when they eventually announced my donation, a bevy of ladies came over to where I was seated and shook my hands. Frankly, I felt good on the inside but I wondered whether I will receive my reward from God.
Beloved, our God wants us to be the unsung heroes of good deeds. Let’s not grow weary of giving our gifts in private, and our Father who sees everything done in private will reward us in the public (Matthew 6:4).