GIVE SECRETLY; RECEIVE GOD'S REWARD

“Hey Rudy, this is Rick,” I said, “There’s a family that needs some food.” I have made similar phone calls probably fifty times. He responded: “How many people in the family?” That’s all he asked. I drive over to his house. Rudy pops the overhead garage door open and helps load the food into my van.

“Thank you so much Rudy,” I said. He shruggs his shoulders-- almost resistant to receiving the thanks.

Jesus said: “When you give to the poor; do . . . so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you openly.” Rudy’s neighbors are unaware of his generosity. So is his family. Even the people who benefit from his kindness have no idea who he is.

I get the fun of delivering the goodies. Two people are home-- two boys, nine and thirteen. The oldest boy says, “Rick you saved our lives!” Not literal, but their emotions were busting lose.

Taking the last box into the house; they practically yelled, “Thank you Rick!” I informed them that the food was not from me. I said, “You need to praise God.” In unison the two boys power punched the air, yelling: “Yeah, praise God!”

I can tell Rudy what happened, yet he will only experience a minuscule amount of the emotional buzz.

It’s not very exciting stacking canned goods into a box. No one is going to be jump-up-and-down excited as Rudy secretly purchases food on sale, stocking it away for the next crisis.

Doing what God tells us to do is not based on excitement or praise from people. God’s formula—secret giving equals open reward. Could you use a reward, a blessing from God?

In faith—give secretly.