Who's patting your back? Daily Devotional, September 14, 2009

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings:20, Ezekiel 10, Luke 6

I recently read an article about a generous priest. He dresses in his full garb and is known for walking through the poor neighborhoods handing out money. There were many photos of him handing out money, standing in front of large donation checks and receiving recognition and honor for his generosity. My first thought was, "Wow that is wonderful. What a generous man!" My second thought was, "Wait a second! Is that even Biblical?" I read through Matthew 6:1-18, where it talks about giving, praying and fasting. In giving we are not to announce it, to the point where we don’t even let our left hand know what our right hand is giving! In praying we are not to pray to receive the attention of man, but rather go behind closed doors to make our petitions. In fasting, we are to intentionally make sure we don’t look like we are fasting...Do you see a theme here?

The priest may have been trying to remain anonymous and it was others that started to put it on display...I will not judge where his heart is at in the matter, but it did spark something in me that caused me to reflect on how God would like our faith to be demonstrated. God knows that if our acts of kindness are seen by the public eye we can start to feel pretty good about ourselves! Giving to the poor is never a bad thing, but God knows when we begin to receive the praise from man for our giving our focus can easily shift from a generous act, to an act of attention and pride. God gives us these scriptures as an exercise in remaining humble. Do we desire to receive the credit for our demonstration of kindness, or are we satisfied with knowing that God sees everything that is done in secret and will reward us accordingly? (Verse 4)

In 2 Kings 20:12-20, King Hezekiah was visited by envoys from Babylon and he showed them every treasure in his kingdom. The Lord was displeased with Hezekiah’s act because it was done to impress man rather than to glorify God. The prophet told Hezekiah that because of this act, there would come a time when everything in his palace, and even some of his descendants would be carried off to Babylon. King Hezekiah had done many wonderful things for the Lord and God had blessed him greatly. In this instant, he allowed those things to become about him rather than about God. Before we go casting a stone at Hezekiah, how many times have we done the same thing in our own lives? How many times have we told someone we were fasting with the motivation to appear righteous? How many times have we given something and made sure that it was noticed or recognized? What about simply accomplishing something, and making sure we receive the credit for that accomplishment or idea? I know I am guilty!

The reality is, that it feels pretty good when we receive the credit for something...but it feels even better when we receive our reward from the Lord! I realize at times I am tempted to make it known that I am giving, fasting or praying. It is in those moments that I realize that is all-the-more a reason to exercise my humility and not say anything at all. For the people that make it a point to receive the praise from men, God says that they have received their reward in full (vs. 3). How many blessings from God have we traded for a little recognition from man?

I challenge you today to live for an audience of One. The only words that truly matter when it is all said and done are His words to you, "Well done good and faithful servant." Pleasing and honoring Him in our actions should be our hearts desire, and receiving God’s pat on the back will be much more rewarding than any man’s.

Thanks for reading and responding,
Melissa Miller

Tomorrow’s reading: 2 Kings 21, Ezekiel 11, Luke 7