Nobody Has to Know

Read

Matthew 6:1-2 "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. 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."

Think

Have you ever done something nice and then really, really wanted everyone to see it?

Maybe you helped clean up, and then you looked around to make sure a grown-up was watching. Maybe you shared your toy, and then you said it loudly so everyone would say, "Wow, that was so nice!"

We all do this. It feels good when people notice our good stuff. There is nothing wrong with feeling happy when you help. But sometimes we start doing good things only so people will notice. And that is what Jesus wanted to talk about.

But Jesus said something surprising. He painted a funny picture in people's minds. He talked about people who blow trumpets before they do something kind. Imagine that. A kid marches up to share a snack, then pulls out a giant trumpet and goes TA-DA so the whole room turns to look. Silly, right? But that is exactly what we do sometimes, just without the trumpet.

Jesus taught that the best kind of serving does not need people watching. When you help just so people will clap for you, you already got your reward. People clapped. That is it. The end.

But when you help quietly, without a trumpet, God sees. And his reward is so much better than a bunch of people clapping for a minute and then forgetting.

Here is the cool part. Your good works are still supposed to shine, remember? God wants people to see your light. The difference is who gets the credit. When people see your kindness and think, "Wow, God is so good," that is shining. When people see your kindness and you make sure they think, "Wow, I am so good," that is the trumpet.

So serve because you love God and love people. Not for the TA-DA. Not for the trumpet. God is watching, and he never misses a single kind thing you do, even the ones nobody claps for.

Apply

Skip the trumpet – Do something kind today and tell no one about it. Not your friends, not even your family. Let it be a secret between you and God.

Pray

God, sometimes I want everyone to see the good things I do. Help me serve for you and not for the clapping. Thank you that you see every kind thing, even the secret ones. That is enough for me. In Jesus' name. Amen.