Back to Basics
Friday, January 18, 2008
“Talk is Cheap…”
1“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. 2When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 NLT
Today’s Scripture makes it clear that we don’t do what we do as followers of Jesus in order for others to “pat us on the back” and tell us what a great job we’re doing. We are to DO our good deeds as Jesus followers as if we are doing them for Jesus to see—because that’s who we ARE doing them for! When we get caught up in the trap of doing good so others will think we’re good, we’ve missed the point of following Jesus altogether. Jesus saved us from sin and death for a life of good works. Those good works don’t win us “brownie points” with Jesus, or anyone else. They are simply evidence of the new life we’ve received. As long as we want or need the admiration of others, our ACTIONS are really acts of self-righteousness rather than of the righteousness that Jesus gives us. Once again, in order to change WHY we do our actions, we must change our beliefs. If the belief in our heart is that Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin and death, and therefore, out of gratitude to Him, we are committed to living a life of loving service in His name, then our ACTIONS, will bring Him glory. We won’t care whether anyone’s watching, because we’re living for an audience of one—Jesus! Think about a typical day in your life. When you do a “good deed” for someone is the deed satisfying, or is it only satisfying if someone says, “Thank you,” or notices and affirms what you’ve done? In order for that to change, we must change our hearts as we’ve been saying all week. Hopefully, you’ve been taking my challenges and putting some Scriptures into your hearts consistently, and the change is happening!
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
How do you respond when you do a “good deed” and no one notices or says, “Thank You?” Based on those feelings what do you need to do, to ensure that your actions are carried out for Jesus, and not for others to affirm you?
During the day “commit” at least one “random act of kindness,” one you know that no one will see and affirm, and offer it up to Jesus with a smile!