TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4
DEVOTIONAL
by Stephanie Reloj
Whenever we have ministries or when I am celebrating something, I always feel awkward posting them on social media. In my head, there’s a thin line between boasting and purely commemorating an event. On the other hand, a seasoned foreign pastor discovered that whenever he travels around the world, does ministry, and posts on social media, the people he knows are given the opportunity to help out; they encourage him to post all the time. So I thought, should I be like him? I guess it’s a matter of the heart.
In our passage today, Jesus addresses the issue of giving, urging His followers to practice generosity with sincerity and humility. He contrasts true righteousness with the hypocritical behavior of those who perform good deeds merely to gain praise and recognition from others.
At first glance, Jesus’ instruction to give in secret may seem to contradict His earlier teaching about letting our light shine before others. However, the key difference lies in the motive behind our actions. While it is important to share the good news of Jesus and the work He is doing in our lives, boasting about our faith or good deeds for the sake of appearances is not pleasing to God.
Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of those who outwardly display their righteousness but harbor sin within their hearts. True righteousness is not about seeking approval or admiration from others but about genuine love and compassion for those in need.
When we give in secret, our focus shifts from ourselves to the needs of others and the glory of God. It is not about drawing attention to our own righteousness but about reflecting the love and generosity of our heavenly Father.
REFLECTION
Weigh your motives for giving and serving others. Are you motivated by a desire to receive praise and recognition, or are you genuinely seeking to meet the needs of others out of love for God and neighbor? Take time to examine your heart and ask God to purify your motives. How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and sincerity in your acts of righteousness, focusing on glorifying God rather than seeking the approval of others?
PRAYER
Gracious Father, forgive us for the times when we have selfishly sought praise and recognition for our good deeds. Help us to cultivate sincerity and humility in our acts of righteousness, giving generously out of love for You and others. May our lives bring glory to Your name as we seek to reflect Your love and compassion to the world around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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