What Does God See? (Part One)

Good morning

Until Friday morning, 27 July, we are going to look at some extracts from my book.

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you,” (Matthew 6:1-4).

Does this passage mean we are never to talk or testify about the things the Lord has done through us? Does giving to the needy always have to be secretive, resulting in guilt feelings if someone finds out? Is the “submarine” Christian lifestyle—“Christianity is a private thing”—what God intended faith to be?

In establishing our Christian lifestyle, we must look at the message from the Bible as a whole, a unit. If we look at our passage, we see that what Jesus is most concerned about is, once again, attitude. What is the motivation behind our righteousness and our giving? Is it to impress those around us, to draw attention to us, make us the focal point? Or is it to give glory to the Lord? Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” in front of others in order to be seen by them. Don’t announce your good works with a trumpet.

The key in this passage is who gets the glory. If someone is helped, he has to thank somebody. He has to praise someone’s goodness. The way you go about doing righteousness and giving determines who is going to get that thanks and praise.

If people see or hear about your deeds (whether from you or others) would they praise you or God? What is your motivation for helping others? Do you hope they will see God behind it and therefore come closer to Him, or do you hope people will like you because of it and maybe give you a better position in the church culture? If people praise you, do you accept the praise, or do you pass it on to God?

I have often been tempted to this. The Lord often uses me to initiate and start something new in the church or Christian organization by encouraging the pastor and taking the first steps. It usually takes off with great glory and success, but nobody knows I was involved. Often people praise the pastor for it, and God is glorified. Sometimes I am tempted to sulk about it, but by the Lord’s grace I know I have done my duty. Then I quietly slip into the background. God has seen it and He will reward me one day.

Everything belongs to the Lord. We have nothing. Why would we steal a tiny bit of glory or praise that does not belong to us when the Lord promises an amazing reward in heaven one day? We must become more heavenly minded. This short life on earth is only a rehearsal for heaven. When we set our minds on results and rewards in this life, working for accomplishments and rewards, we are very short-sighted. What we then receive is of temporary nature and not eternal value. In the words of our Lord: “. . . to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full,” (Matthew 6:2).

Instead, we must forget about the present and see whether our deeds are pleasing to God so that we can receive our eternal rewards from Him. Whatever we do, we must expect nothing now. One day the accounts will be settled.

To be continued.

Lord, help me to give for your glory.

Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.