Shhhhh....                                                                                     09-06-13

Matthew 6:1-4 (NASB) ¹  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
²  "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
³  "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
⁴  so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Well, it's football time in Tennessee! The beloved Vols are taking to the field once again tomorrow. The atmosphere in Knoxville is hopeful and the Vols are on everyone's mind and lips; at least until a heavyweight comes into Knoxville and lays a beatdown on them. Oh well, enjoy it while you can right? It was an article about football alongside a kindly act that birthed this message today.

I read in the sports page about an NFL owner who gave a great amount of money(200 million I believe) to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. His benevolence was trumpeted in the news pages and whatnot for a couple of days and then faded out of the public view. Indeed, I had forgotten about it myself until later in the week when another act of benevolence brought it back to mind. It was a contrast in how the world views and rewards things and how God views and rewards them.

I believe it was Tuesday night when I received a phone call from Shelley informing me that the AC in the house had gone out. It was about 90 degrees that day and the house was rapidly becoming unbearable. So, she and Jessica packed up and went in search of relief. Jessica to her Grandmother's and Shelley to my mother's. Michael rode it out and stayed at the house! Please pray that the heat didn't affect his brain. Shelley and I tried in vain to get the part and fix the AC that night. On top of that she was told that the part wouldn't be available until Thursday. (2 more days) Couldn't find the part anywhere. Or so it seemed.

After a long day at work Shelley went to church.I called her afterwards to see what was happening. We met to get something to eat and I asked her where everyone was staying that night. And here's my story. It seems that while she was at work a friend of her's at church had taken it upon themselves to call a repairman and sent them out to fix the air. Not only that, they had instructed the repairman to send them the bill. As Shelley told me this I was touched by this act of kindness and was reminded of the grand gift to Michigan just a day or two before. I started thinking of all the hoopla over the gift to Michigan as opposed to the $50-$100 gift given to Shelley.

This passage of scripture came to mind as I thought about the two gifts. Here you have one gift heralded all over the newspages. Two or three different wires carrying their version of the story. And, don't get me wrong it was a large donation, BUT that man has received his reward... IN FULL. Look at verse 2 again.

Matthew 6:2 (NASB) ²  "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
There are two key phrases. "....so that they may be honored by men." and "...they have their reward in full." You see, Jesus said that once someone publishes what they do for Him, that's it. The publicity, small or large is payment in full. It extends past just giving to all that we do for God. The principle is this, do it in secret and God will reward you openly. Prayer,fasting, acts of righteousness, God wants us to trust Him for the payback instead of men.

Look at the simplicity of the way Shelley's friend acted. Didn't tell anyone as far as I know. They just decided to bless her and made no fanfare. Heck, I don't even know how she found out about it. But, it just shows the difference between the world's ways and God's ways. In God's eyes that small amount(in comparison) was more important than 200 million and will receive a greater and certainly more lasting reward. The Bible teaches us to "practice our righteousness" in secret. If we do that then we can trust God to make it right for us. He promises to do just that.
Our efforts do not go unnoticed, nor do they go unrewarded.

 Galatians 6:9 (NASB) ⁹  Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Let me tell you something. That man's gift to the University of Michigan may have earned him some fanfare and time in the limelight. And, it was a good thing that he did I suppose. But, today, Friday, just a couple of days afterward it is old news. It's the stuff of fish wrappers. Amen? But, that simple act of righteousness performed God's way will earn an eternal reward someday, all the while paying dividends down here on earth. AMEN!!
A simple act of love, done just for the satisfaction of blessing someone goes a long way in God's eyes don't you think? It doesn't take 200 million to grab the Lord's attention.

 Psalm 66:12 (NASB) ¹²  You made men ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water, Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.

 



God Bless