Friday, January 17, 2020
Bible Text: Matthew 6:1-3 “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public so that people will see what you do. If you do these things publicly, you will not have any reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give something to a needy person, do not make a big show of it, as the hypocrites do in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do it so that people will praise them. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. But when you help a needy person, do it in such a way that even your closest friend will not know about it.”
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Well, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God’s glory.”
The earth is a beautiful place, full of lovely people God created and assigned power to dominate. More interestingly, God created you and I to be dependent on one another and that adds more color to life as we need one another on our journey of maximizing our potentials in life. It is evident and proven that mankind can achieve more when unified. Right from the beginning, from the creation of Adam, God knew Adam simply could not function alone, hence He created for Him a help mate Read Genesis 2:18-24. Adam just like you and I, exercised some independence as a man, yet He was dependent on eve; both capacities contained in a balanced proportion.
God took away the absolute independence of man to function alone hence you see the richest of all still needs other people to fully function. We need a combination of resource to deliver and be productive on earth. There are only so much machines you can put on a banking floor, a man will still be needed to show empathy and human relations to your esteemed clients.
God has called us to a charitable movement, and there is no wrong in reaching out to people who are in need, but the motive behind the act is key. Interestingly we are now in a phase where people engage in charity works because of show off and its worth rather than just pure benevolence. In fact, some will only be charitable openly and not privately. If it wouldn’t get them popularity or a good name, count them out. Some love the praises and thank you they get from benefactors in response to their good deeds and this encourages and motivates them to do more. There is no bad in this but a question to ask yourself today is what is the motive behind everything I do? Charitable work is becoming a tool used to drive popularity and fame and this is taking away the goodness behind the motive. Without doubt, we are all dependent on each other, but we should be with a good motive and not selfish intentions to exploit avenues.
Companies carry out corporate social responsibilities and some only genuinely open up about their public duties to invite more people to benefit from the scheme, others are simply driven by the praises of men. In today’s bible verse Genesis 6:1-3, Jesus addresses how we perform those duties and Christ was very clear on how we are rewarded when we do it genuinely or make a show if it.
Showing love should not have to be a big deal, it should be a way of life blended in and incorporated into our daily living. The bible speaks at various times about our duties as children of God and we are told that on judgment day, God will separate the sheep from the goat. That is, those who showed love by providing for others and those who were selfish. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Casting out demons and the likes might not be sufficient.
When you spot and meet the needs of others, you are playing your part in human dependency Genesis 2:18, and fulfilling the word of God according to Ecclesiastes 4:10. Doing so with a genuine heart means proving your love for God and man, Matthew 22:37-39.
But be reminded that when you do it with the wrong motive, you are simply wasting your time and would have been better off not doing it because the reward from such is not worthwhile.
Do all things to glory God not yourself!
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank You for a wonderful week
- I receive the grace and resource to do good deeds genuinely this year 2020
- Help me to fully acknowledge your grace and provision and understand its for the purpose of showing up for others and not showing off.
- Forgive my iniquities Lord and let your mercy prevail over judgement
- Thank you Father and in Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.
I’m reading the YouVersion plan ‘Bible in One Year 2020 With Nicky Gumbel’. Check it out by clicking on the caption below.
