Daily devotional, November 1, 2023 Love from anonymous
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Last year, a prominent university in the United States received a substantial anonymous donation for its School of Nursing. This grant from an unidentified benefactor allowed deserving yet financially-challenged students to pursue a nursing career without going deep into student debt right after college. The endowment also went a long way as it did not only benefit the students, it also helped the community who is in need of more nurses to care for patients.
As Christians, we are called to share our blessings without having to inform everyone about our generous deed. This could be a challenge nowadays, as broadcasting charitable deeds in social media is almost a given, and seeking likes and positive reactions to it is second nature.
Jesus Christ Himself reminded us to refrain from publicizing such endeavors, and instead extend assistance to others quietly:
"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.But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:2-4)
Our Heavenly Father asks us to remain humble in spite of our capacity and willingness to share our blessings. We should never brag about the good things that we have done and can continue to do because everything comes from the Lord, including the righteousness in our hearts. Proverbs 3:27 reminds us that “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”
Apart from giving help without the klieg lights, we too have to give happily. The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian church about happily sharing what they have. In his second letter to them he emphasized that those who give should provide help sincerely: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” (2 Corinthians 9:7). In the preceding verse, Apostle Paul added that our sacrifices and generosity will not go unnoticed by the heavens: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Materially blessed people are even more expected to be open-handed. 1 Timothy 6:17-18 says: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”
In the end, only the most sincere of intentions matter to our Heavenly Father. Let us be good and humble stewards of all the blessings that he has bestowed on us.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Matthew 6:1-8 and 1 Timothy 6:17-19to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: What kind of benefactor are you? Do you announce your endeavor to the world, or do you do your good deeds silently?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving us the capacity to help others using the blessings that you have bestowed upon us. Give us the spiritual discipline to refrain from calling attention to the good deeds that I do, and just do it with the aim of pleasing You alone. Amen.