Thanks for noticing

Tell me this has never happened to you before. You help someone out. It doesn’t matter how big or small the help is. It could be slowing down to let another driver into the traffic. Or maybe you took forty two hours to make, bake and ice your friend’s, daughter’s wedding cake. Not that I’m speaking from experience. In fact, I cannot remember having made a cake...even once. But here’s the thing: the person you helped DID NOT SAY THANK YOU! Your selfless sacrifice was not appreciated. All the work you did behind the scenes seemed to go unnoticed. This, by the way, is probably why I will never bake a cake, for not even my most loyal fans could be bribed into appreciating my culinary expertise...except, possibly, Squiggles and Lucy my devoted canine groupies.

That aside, nobody wants to be taken for granted, whether they can bake or not. I tried to find a quote to prove that even Mother Teresa felt the same way – but no luck there. Nevertheless, I can say with great confidence that most of us want people to notice and appreciate our sacrifices... especially me! In short, if I donate my kidney, I want a reward. And I have come to believe that God also wants me to have a reward. But in my quest for rewards, I have discovered that what truly matters is WHERE I receive my reward.

Let us consider the first proposition, that God wants me to have a reward. Is that true? Jesus said that God will reward us for giving to the needy, fasting and praying (Mat. 6). In fact, the sentence He used – repeated three times – was “then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”. So God rewards.

However, it is work which is done in secret that is rewarded. You see, we have a choice. We can seek either the recognition of man or of God. Some Christians do things to seek the recognition and honour of men while pretending to be doing it for God. Jesus called them hypocrites (v2,5&16)! Sadly, I have been a hypocrite many times.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, [hypocrites] have received their reward in full”. Friends, when Jesus says “I tell you the truth”, He has something VERY important to say. When He repeats the same sentence three times, we ignore him at our peril. So hear this: If your motive as a Christian is to seek the recognition and honour of men, you will receive your reward in full. But it will be an earthly reward. By playing your cards right, your friends and family – maybe even your community – will think that you are a good person. They will honour and applaud you. You will get your earthly reward. But how long will it last? And does this way of seeking rewards always work?

Having considered the examples of giving, praying and fasting, Jesus summed up by saying “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth” (v19). Doing good for the wrong motives is hypocritical, and the reward is fleeting. Rather, Jesus said, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (v20). Doing good for love and to make your Father famous is seen by Him, and the reward is eternal. Which would you rather have, a reward that lasts for a life time (if you are extremely lucky), or one that lasts forever? Would you like God to “see” – that is recognise and applaud – your work or man.

All the people the world truly admires – like Mother Theresa - laboured for an eternal reward. They were out to seek God’s approval. When nobody on earth noticed, they knew that their Father had.

So the next time you plan to make a sacrifice, remind yourself before you start: “Even if nobody on earth notices or appreciates this, my Father in heaven will, and He will give me an eternal reward”.