May 31, 2022 8:00 pm
Every day, Glen purchases his morning coffee at a nearby drive-through. And every day he also pays for the order of the person in the car behind him, asking the cashier to wish that person a good day. Glen has no connection to them. He’s not privy to their reaction, nor, it seems, is this his motivation: he simply believes this small gesture is “the least he can do.” On one occasion, however, he learned of the impact of his actions when he read an anonymous letter to the editor of his local newspaper. He discovered that the kindness of his gift on July 18, 2017, caused the person in the car behind him to reconsider their plans to take their own life later that day.
Glen gives daily to the people in the car behind him without receiving credit for it. Only on this single occasion did he get a glimpse of the impact of his small gift. When Jesus says we should “not let [our] left hand know what [our] right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3), He’s urging us to give—as Glen does—without need for recognition.
When we give out of our love for God, without concern for receiving the praise of others, we can trust that our gifts—large or small—will be used by Him to help meet the needs of those receiving them.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
I'm Kirsten Holmberg, and I titled today's reading, Giving Out of Love. Every day, Glenn purchases his morning coffee at a nearby drive-thru. And every day, he also pays for the order of the person in the car behind him, asking the cashier to wish that person a good day.
Glenn has no connection to them. He's not aware of their reactions. He simply believes this small gesture is the least he can do. On one occasion, however, he learned of the impact of his actions when he read an anonymous letter to the editor of his local newspaper. He discovered that the kindness of his gift on July 18, 2017 caused the person in the car behind him to reconsider their plans to take their own life later that day. Glenn gives daily to the people in the car behind him without receiving credit for it.
Only on this single occasion did he get a glimpse of the impact of his small gift. When Jesus says we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing in Matthew chapter 6, he's urging us to give, as Glenn does, without need for recognition. When we give out of our love for God without concern for receiving the praise of others, we can trust that our gifts, large or small, will be used to help him meet the needs of those receiving them.
Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 through 4. Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others.
Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Let's pray. Father, thank you for using us to meet the needs of others and for meeting our needs through them. Help us to not seek credit when we give, but to do so in a way that gives you the glory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-04-10 02:54:36 / 2023-04-10 02:56:05 / 1
