By: Steve Leland
A concept that I ran across one day was that of someone doing the right thing for the Kingdom of Yah, whose reward may only be the acclaims that they receive from the people that observe them. While I don’t believe in doing things for reward itself, I am human and am not immune to the warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from being rewarded. In various Scriptures, there is the idea of a crown that is given to those who have earned it. While I don’t really feel drawn to have one, it strikes me that those without one (or with only a minimal one) will be displaying for eternity the way that they made decisions during the short interval that they spent breathing oxygen on this blue-green orb. It just seems that one might feel a bit naked without one. So I will continue to do what I believe are the right things for simply the reason that they should be done, and accept the collateral advantage of whatever reward Yah deems reasonable.
But back to the idea of an immediate, short-term reward. Matthew 6:5: (KJV) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:16: Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:1: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Contrast those verses with: Matthew 6:4: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. There is a concept that some hold that sounds pretty good to me that defines different levels of giving. If you give to someone in need, that is the minimum basic requirement. It is, of course, a good thing.
The next level up is to give to a second party to disperse your gift to someone whom you have designated as the recipient. The receiver is not to know who blessed them, but you do. And you receive some satisfaction in knowing who they are and what need you alleviated. Obviously, the highest level of giving, where you have the least attachment, is to give in a way where you have no idea who receives it and they have no idea who has given it. I have to admit, this one isn’t easy. I kinda like knowing how my money is being spent. Yeah, did you catch that? How MY money is being spent. Colossians 3:23: And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Ouch. Oh, one minor little question. If you are taking a tax deduction, have you received your reward? Maybe part of it? I don’t know, judging that is above my pay-grade.
By: Steve Leland
