Matthew 6:1-4 (NKJV) "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
From an early age, many of us were taught to expect and accept the applause of men. It happened innocently enough when we said our first word or took our first step. So it should be no surprise that we have adapted this desire for man's applause and brought it with us into the church.
Truly, affirmation from others is a great addition to our lives as we interact with those we love. The applause of man, the appreciation of others, the acceptance of peers, and the affirmation of friends are healthy and helpful in their proper context.
However, there are dangers and it's important as you serve Jesus to do so not for the applause of man, but rather for the applause and acceptance of heaven. Why? The applause of man is fickle. One day they like you, the next you don't measure up. Ask any losing quarterback on Monday, he'll tell you.
Our praying, our giving, our service is to God primarily and to man always secondarily. As we keep this perspective, the love of Jesus constrains us in this beautiful labor of love. I love what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, "So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3, 7-9
Your work and service in Christ is not going unnoticed by your Heavenly Father, that's for sure! No human may know of the countless hours you invest in the Kingdom of God, but He does. Keep serving Him my friend, motivated NOT by the applause of man, but rather by the resounding applause of heaven.
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
Dear Pastor Ed, Thank you once again for your faithfulness to write this note. The timing of your messages has been uncanny. I was laying in bed this morning after reading some discouraging evaluations from a Women's retreat session I gave. Out of 200 women, there were three who were offended by a comment I made. My best friend 'doubt' came to lodge in my ear, whispering lies and discouragement. "See you are no good. God can't use you. You are ruining His witness. Give up." I prayed and lifted my ministry up to God again and asked Him to make me the vessel he wants me to be-cracks and all. May God be glorified even more through our failures. Thank you for your inspiring words this morning. I have been putting off my writing for an upcoming camp for at-risk kids. That is my ask for today. Guess what the topic is for session 2? "Not believing the lie that we are failures in God's eyes." :0)
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