Done Right!

Done Right!

Matthew 6:3-4 TPT

[3] But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself. [4] Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.”

This is part of the first recorded sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat with His disciples. Of course, there were a lot of people listening to Him as He taught: a crowd was there, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the teachers of the law must have been there too. One conclusion that the people who listened to Him came to was that He taught them as One having authority, not like the scribes. The people were astonished at His teaching, but one has to go back to the start of the sermon to establish who the intended audience was. Jesus called His disciples to Himself and took them up the mountain. Yes, there was a crowd, but it was when the disciples had sat down that He began to teach them. The clear directives given in that sermon are not for the weak or faint hearted. The messages in this sermon are not for people who are unsure of who they are, or what God's expectations for them are. 

The sermon is indeed for those who have made up their minds to follow Jesus; who have counted the cost and know what it would take from them. Do you know who you are? Do you have the clear view of God's expectations from you? Am I willing to pay the price for discipleship? One of the prices for such a call is what the verse above lays out. It calls for an emphasis on life without a desire for the limelight. It is human nature to crave recognition. It is human nature to want to be seen, and to matter. There is ordinarily not much wrong with seeking validation, but why do you seek it? Why do you need to be seen? The answers to these questions reflect who you are, what your priorities are, and where you will end up. One way to gauge the state of your heart is in what you are willing to let go. Is there anything at all that I consider too important to give up, if God asks me to? Is there any price I consider too high to pay, if it leads to God's glory? 

One of the issues that weigh on the heart of man is the fact that you cannot determine the times and seasons of the reward God has promised. God asks me to do whatever it is I want to do with pure motives, and without drawing any attention to myself. It is only a broken and submitted heart that can do this. In a world that is ruled by likes and shares, and driven by what is attractive and pleasing to the eye, it takes discipline not to be fooled by what looks good on the outside. It is the Father's prerogative on how and when He rewards my generosity. Never let applause define application. Do not let what people will say keep you from obeying God or aligning with His instructions. I have to note that there is nothing the world can give you that will last forever. It is God who blesses and adds no sorrow. That which is done right, in secret, will be rewarded by God. He is worth waiting for. Would you? God's time of favour is here.