Wait For It
Matt. 6:1-16
Did you ever help someone without letting anyone know about it?
Photo by Tim Jamieson on Unsplash
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. - Matt. 6:1-16
We like to be rewarded for the good we do.
At the very least, we love recognition. We thrive on it. We learn it in school. Good job. A+. Gold star.
So, what Jesus asks of us goes against our training and nature. What, wait?
Yes, wait for it, as they say on cat videos on social media.
We need to do these things in secret and wait patiently for the reward.
When we get upset about this, it is our ego crying out for attention. I did this. I want someone, anyone, to pat me on the back for it. Good job. You're the man (woman).
If you think we grow out of this need for acceptance and attention, check out the posts on LinkedIn.
I just got promoted. I got this award. I made it on the news. I lost 100 pounds.
That last one was an ad, sorry.
The point Jesus is making is that we do these things out of love for each other, not for recognition. And it should embarrass us to be singled out for our good deeds.
No, please. I didn't do it for that.
After Jesus healed people, he told them to tell no one. Now that may have been because he knew word would spread and he would be bombarded by huge crowds, which is what happened. But the intent was to keep it private, just between us.
As a deacon, I was trained to visit and listen. The visit is not about us, but about and for the person we are visiting, whether they be sick, or lonely, or whatever.
If we listen to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (yes, that takes some getting used to), we hear the voice telling us the person on that park bench is in need of company, and we go.
No one needs to know we did that.
And if they don't want to talk, we give it a little time, and we move on. We will never know what that visit meant to them. The Holy Spirit doesn't tell us why.
When we meet God, then we will know.
More to come...