A Prayer for Tuesday, March 22, 2011

“Your Father Who Sees in Secret”

Jesus does not say how God will reward us for the giving that we do in secret.

He does make very clear, however, that we should not give in ways that would cause others to give us credit or that would even allow us to give ourselves credit.

It stands to reason that whatever rewards we get from God—which may well have to do with the peace that comes from not feeling like we have to prove our worth to others or to ourselves or even to God by any means, including a public display of “generosity”—will be greater than any pat on the back we could get from other people or from ourselves.

O God, give us hearts that want to share out of what we have for the sake of those who have needs and give us hearts that are content with knowing that such giving just may be its own reward.

Amen.

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)