CHARITY THAT PLEASES GOD
"When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left haw what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Matthew 6:3-4
Look again at the verses above. You might even read through the three chapters that contain Jesus Sermon on the Mount. If you do, you'll realize that nowhere in that sermon did Jesus explicitly command His followers to be generous or charitable. Why? Because He likely assumed they already were: "When do you a charitable deed," He began. So instead of issuing a command, Jesus offered principles to guide His followers in a lifestyle of generosity. Specifically, Jesus said that one's giving is to be humble, discreet, and completely uninterested in recognition from others.
Jesus makes it clear that we should not seek praise from others for our generosity because God will reward us publically. Anyone promising us an immediate or tangible return for our generosity in this life is not preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only promise Jesus made was that our heavenly Father is fully aware of our acts of charity and will reward each one in His own time and manner.
This absence of an immediate or tangible reward for doing what is right leaves us with a question to ponder: "Is the approval of my heavenly Father enough for me, or do I require recognition from others as well?"
Prayer :
Father, free me from the trap of seeking the praise of men. Help me know soul satisfying contentment in simply pleasing You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Paypal.me/DawnCoburn
If you feel led to sow in my ministry that is my link God bless you abundantly.
Look again at the verses above. You might even read through the three chapters that contain Jesus Sermon on the Mount. If you do, you'll realize that nowhere in that sermon did Jesus explicitly command His followers to be generous or charitable. Why? Because He likely assumed they already were: "When do you a charitable deed," He began. So instead of issuing a command, Jesus offered principles to guide His followers in a lifestyle of generosity. Specifically, Jesus said that one's giving is to be humble, discreet, and completely uninterested in recognition from others.
Jesus makes it clear that we should not seek praise from others for our generosity because God will reward us publically. Anyone promising us an immediate or tangible return for our generosity in this life is not preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The only promise Jesus made was that our heavenly Father is fully aware of our acts of charity and will reward each one in His own time and manner.
This absence of an immediate or tangible reward for doing what is right leaves us with a question to ponder: "Is the approval of my heavenly Father enough for me, or do I require recognition from others as well?"
Prayer :
Father, free me from the trap of seeking the praise of men. Help me know soul satisfying contentment in simply pleasing You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Paypal.me/DawnCoburn
If you feel led to sow in my ministry that is my link God bless you abundantly.
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