The Best Rewards

When you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 6:3-4

THERE’S NO QUESTION that helping people in need is a wonderful thing. Giving of our time and resources in order to bless others who are hurting is the essence of godliness. It’s something we’re commanded to do many times throughout the Bible. All followers of Jesus should give to those in need.

And yet, strangely, this act of loving our neighbors through giving can also be a dangerous undertaking. We may become tempted to start wishing that other people could see what we’re doing—that they were around to see how good and merciful and generous we are.

It’s natural for us to desire recognition and approval when we do something good. It’s human nature for us to crave a reward for our positive behavior—which is why it’s so easy for us to slip into the habit of making sure others hear about it whenever we donate to charity or buy a hamburger for a homeless person on the street. But the approval of others isn’t of much value in the long run.

We need to remember that the best rewards come from God. We don’t have to settle for the temporary admiration of other people when we know that God takes note of our actions—and that he’s promised to reward us for good deeds done in private.