"But When You Give..."

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” (Matthew 6:3 ESV)

An amazing thing scripture reveals to us is that in Christ's ministry, He often healed and then told the one healed not to say a word to anyone about what He had done. One reason Jesus did this is that at the time, He did not want to advance His ministry to that revelation. Jesus was on the Father's timetable, and everything was pre-planned.

Not everyone listened to Jesus and proclaimed His miracles anyway, which forced Jesus to retreat to secluded places for rest and prayer. We often read in the Gospels the phrase “His hour had not yet come,” a reference to His planned sacrifice to redeem humanity from its sin. Jesus already knew where and when He would drink the cup in the garden.

We are called to be humble in our service. Yet, we often see those who have to talk about their “service” to God, be it feeding someone, giving someone money, or even giving someone the gospel. Yes, it is okay to testify about God’s impact on our lives, but there should be no braggarts in Christianity. Humility in service is not just a suggestion; it is a commandment that we must all strive to uphold. Even those closest to me do not know what I do in the name of the Lord, nor do I take credit for a single ministry success. It is God’s ministry, and He is the one who makes the achievements happen. I am just available for Him to use.

Many are worried about their image and how they are seen by others when the only one they need to worry about knows their true Heart, and that is the Lord. There is no reason to disclose anything about our service to anyone unless we are seeking their assistance. In talking about Christ’s knowledge of the heart, John wrote, “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” (2:24-25)

When we worry about how others see us, it is a sign of vanity and ego, both things scripture tells us are sinful. We are to be humble and accept that Christ sees everything we do, both good and bad. In our salvation, we are 'broken by the Lord'. This means that we come to realize our own sinfulness and our complete dependence on God for our salvation. We come to know how sinful we truly are and that we can do nothing to save ourselves.

We are all called to serve the Lord. For some, the calling is little, for others, the call is greater. It is not our choice where we fall in the depth of God's service. God decides this, and the willing heart follows where God leads. If anyone could brag about being a godly person, it would have been Paul, yet he always painted himself as the worst sinner of all and unworthy of God’s grace. When we look back at Paul, we do not see him as a godly man because he claimed to be, but because of what he said he was not. We see him as a godly man because wherever God sent Paul, he went. Whether with Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, or Titus, when God called, Paul picked up and went.

When God opens the door for you to serve, do so with great zeal. Then, take that experience, wrap it up in your heart, and relish it, savor it, and be thankful that God used a pile of dirty rags to do His will. No matter how godly you want to be, remember that only God makes you holy; there is nothing you can do except walk the narrow path humbly, recognizing that you are only what God says you are, and that it is His grace that allows you to serve.

Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not, seek Him while you can. We never know what tomorrow may bring.

Grace and Peace.