So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. — Matthew 6:4
With Christmas just about a week or so away, this is the time to remind yourself how important it is for each of us to do secret favors for others. Why secret, you ask? Read the scripture above, which talks about how giving must be in secret, then your Father will reward you.
Do your giving in His name and not in your own. Years ago — in fact, it was about 45 years ago — I gave a co-worker a very expensive gift, then told everybody about it since it cost more than everyone else’s gift, so I could get the credit of having given the lady such a nice gift. The credit wasn’t mine anyway, because I wouldn’t even have had the money to buy the gift if I have not been blessed with such a good government job. Humility escaped me! My giving was so I could tell the world that I had given such a nice gift. Wrong!
Learning from our mistakes is key! Now, 45 years later, I do truly understand the importance of giving and keeping my mouth shut. It is much better for my Heavenly Father to give to me, unexpectedly because I gave without any expectations. To go out and tell the world that I gave you some food that you needed, and for me to tell that to anybody who will listen is ridiculous! Let each of us give from our hearts and keep out mouths closed. Allow the Father to reward you because you gave genuinely.
Don’t just believe what I’m saying — take a look at what the Holy Bible says, in many Scriptures:
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. — Luke 6:38
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. — Proverbs 11:24-25
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. — 2nd Corinthians 9:7
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. — Matthew 6:1-34
Scripture proves the need for us to give in secrecy. Give because it is the right thing to do; give even more at this time of the year. There are many right around us who could use our help! Amen!
Lyndia Grant is a speaker/writer living in the D.C. area. Visit her website, www.lyndiagrantshow.com, send comments to lyndiagrant@gmail.com, or call 240-602-6291. Follow her on Twitter @LyndiaGrant and on Facebook.