Matthew 6:1-4
When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.
When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it.Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I have seen a couple of CBS news stories this week by reporter Steve Hartman* about a “Secret Santa” whose origins have been traced back to the late Ted Horn of Houston, Mississippi. In 1971, Horn noticed a homeless man who wandered into the Dixie Diner. The starving man ordered a big breakfast with the intention to sneak out before the bill came. Horn realized what was happening and slipped up behind the man and handed him a $20 bill, saying, “I think you may have dropped this.” The homeless man vowed that if he ever became wealthy, he would pay this kindness forward. And Larry Stewart did indeed “make it big” in cable and long distance. Stewart fulfilled his vow by randomly passing out $20 bills to strangers during the Christmas season.
Larry Stewart’s identity only became known after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2006. A friend - who remains anonymous - picked up the torch and has continued to pass out the donations. To date, over $2 million in $20 bills has been given away. A follow-up story we saw featured Kansas City police officers, who the current “Secret Santa” enlisted to get in on the joy of giving. The officers were each given $1000 to share with those they felt had a need. A total of $30,000 was distributed to strangers in department stores, coffee shops, and on the street…and one officer gave his entire amount to a homeless mother with 2 children that he was already personally housing in a motel. For these Kansas City cops, the “rewards” were two-fold…they provided immediate joy to those who received the money, and they helped to build good relationships between the public and “men and women in blue.”
The whole key to the “Secret Santa” concept is…well…anonymity. There are a lot of “Larry Stewarts” in this world who perform random acts of kindness and generosity on a daily basis. But there are also a lot of people who can’t hand a kid a nickel without wanting recognition for their “good deed.” And this is what Jesus is referencing in these verses. Not only do we make ourselves look arrogant by doing this…we also indicate a lack of faith in God. After all, if we believe that serving Him is the “be-all-end-all,” and we trust that God knows everything about us…then why do we need to announce to the world that we have basically done what we are supposed to do?
We are called to be disciples of Christ - essentially “Secret Santas” of a kind - all.year.long. Some of us have a handle on this…but others are still seeking the limelight. It’s time for us to demonstrate the confidence of our faith…to step up and step out, and do what God calls us to do without anticipation of a moment’s recognition.
Are you ready to show the world the love and care of Jesus? God’s reward of Eternity in heaven should be more than enough accolade for any of us. Are you ready to demonstrate His love and care to others in secret? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-million-dollars-later-how-secret-santa-came-to-be/
When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.
When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it.Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I have seen a couple of CBS news stories this week by reporter Steve Hartman* about a “Secret Santa” whose origins have been traced back to the late Ted Horn of Houston, Mississippi. In 1971, Horn noticed a homeless man who wandered into the Dixie Diner. The starving man ordered a big breakfast with the intention to sneak out before the bill came. Horn realized what was happening and slipped up behind the man and handed him a $20 bill, saying, “I think you may have dropped this.” The homeless man vowed that if he ever became wealthy, he would pay this kindness forward. And Larry Stewart did indeed “make it big” in cable and long distance. Stewart fulfilled his vow by randomly passing out $20 bills to strangers during the Christmas season.
Larry Stewart’s identity only became known after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2006. A friend - who remains anonymous - picked up the torch and has continued to pass out the donations. To date, over $2 million in $20 bills has been given away. A follow-up story we saw featured Kansas City police officers, who the current “Secret Santa” enlisted to get in on the joy of giving. The officers were each given $1000 to share with those they felt had a need. A total of $30,000 was distributed to strangers in department stores, coffee shops, and on the street…and one officer gave his entire amount to a homeless mother with 2 children that he was already personally housing in a motel. For these Kansas City cops, the “rewards” were two-fold…they provided immediate joy to those who received the money, and they helped to build good relationships between the public and “men and women in blue.”
The whole key to the “Secret Santa” concept is…well…anonymity. There are a lot of “Larry Stewarts” in this world who perform random acts of kindness and generosity on a daily basis. But there are also a lot of people who can’t hand a kid a nickel without wanting recognition for their “good deed.” And this is what Jesus is referencing in these verses. Not only do we make ourselves look arrogant by doing this…we also indicate a lack of faith in God. After all, if we believe that serving Him is the “be-all-end-all,” and we trust that God knows everything about us…then why do we need to announce to the world that we have basically done what we are supposed to do?
We are called to be disciples of Christ - essentially “Secret Santas” of a kind - all.year.long. Some of us have a handle on this…but others are still seeking the limelight. It’s time for us to demonstrate the confidence of our faith…to step up and step out, and do what God calls us to do without anticipation of a moment’s recognition.
Are you ready to show the world the love and care of Jesus? God’s reward of Eternity in heaven should be more than enough accolade for any of us. Are you ready to demonstrate His love and care to others in secret? Don’t you think it’s time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*http://www.cbsnews.com/news/two-million-dollars-later-how-secret-santa-came-to-be/
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