Matthew 6:1-4 – The Reward for Secrets

Secrets can be a good thing if kept for the right reason. Try having a surprise party without the surprise. You get faked appreciation and fizzled exuberance. Sure, the party may be fun but the released secret ruined the initial fun. Other secrets bring more harm than good. Hiding sin or hiding abuse is unhealthy and counterproductive to healing. Not telling the secret of a friend planning to run away can lead to a dangerous outcome. Secrets have their positives, and they have their negatives. We have to choose when they are necessary.

For Jesus, giving to help those in need was a necessary secret. Verse one of our passage tells us that giving so that everyone can see is a lot easier than giving and not telling anyone. You get all your reward from those who pat you on the back for your good deed, while in secret, they are probably despising your outward self-glorification or they are wondering how they also can get a piece of the pie. Giving so that others see does not impress God. In fact, it takes glory away from Him.

How? When we give we are supposed to give to glorify God. When we fail to do this, we are taking the glory rightfully due to God and keeping it for ourselves.

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NIV)

God is the supplier of everything we receive.  When we take the glory for giving, we are stealing the glory due to God for His provision so that we can give!  When we cease doing things to glorify God, we relinquish any reward God may have planned for us. Our reward will only be what brief handshake we may get for our gift.

We can put our names on the pew but only God will determine if our gift was given in secret or not. We can have our name stamped in concrete but only God says whether we have eternal rewards.

Those who give to be honored by others are compared to hypocrites. A hypocrite is one who acts the part but is not engaged in the part. Giving as a hypocrite is giving for self gratification. You are the only one who receives any benefit, and it doesn’t last very long. You get faked appreciation and fizzled exuberance (have I already said this?).

God rewards those who give freely and without regard of honor. They are the ones who are given opportunities to give more. They are the ones whose needs are supplied so they can give more. They are the ones who recognize God and give thanks to His grace.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

• When was the last time you gave without recognition?
• What is your understanding of giving in secret?
• How has God rewarded your giving in the past? How did you thank Him?
• Has God blessed you so that you can give more?
• How hard is it to give without instant reward?