Risk-taking Mission and Service

Discreet Deeds… “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

Discretion is the better part of doing good deeds. Why? One reason is it does not bring attention to the giver, but to the motive behind the gift. If I am the main attraction of a good act then praise from men is my reward. But if I am serving others for an audience of one then the Almighty’s pleasure is my reward. His smile is enough remuneration for my good works. If not, I fall prey to the need for people’s praise as fuel for my faith.

Hypocrites have to be stroked by someone other than their Savior Jesus. However, the mature follower of Christ is satisfied to know their Lord is delighted with their discreet deeds. Jesus warns that our Christian duties of giving, praying and fasting be done in secret, so we don’t become like those who wear their religion to impress others. Moreover, when you do discreet deeds, you do well for yourself, you benefit. Your secret service serves your soul in prayer, your body in fasting and your emotions in giving.

God’s glory replaces vain glory as you venture into doing your acts of righteousness outside of the Lord’s limelight. It is especially tempting for Christian celebrities to be lured into thinking they are the coming attraction, because they forget God’s favor. The disciples must have struggled with this rock star complex as they traveled with the miracle worker Jesus. One’s pride in jockeying for the best position is spiritual hypocrisy.

Jesus addressed this attitude that craves attention, “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45). Thus our discreet service leads to greatness for God.

Therefore, be content knowing your reward comes from Christ. Let sincere words of appreciation from others be an extra blessing your don’t expect. Indeed, the accolades of others pales in comparison to the peace that comes in knowing you did your best for Jesus’s sake. The satisfaction of serving secretly on behalf of your Lord is reward enough in this life. Pure religion privately reaches out to the least of these in love and gratitude to God.

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:26-27).

How can I be discreet in doing good deeds? Why do I do my acts of kindness?

Related Readings: Genesis 15:1; Psalm 17:5; Luke 16:25; Hebrews 11:6

Transformational Living

What did I learn from the Lord in today’s Bible reading? How will I respond?

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t even have to make your subject and your verb agree… You only need a heart full of grace…a soul generated by love.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

United Methodists have believed, from the beginning, that each of us is called to participate in the outreaching ministry of Jesus Christ. John Wesley described this work in simple, practical  terms: “Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can.”

Putting our faith into action is at the very heart of our Christian calling. By volunteering to serve through local programs such as the Chesaning Operation Inasmuch Ministry, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, or the Mission Volunteers program of The General Board of Global Ministries, every person in the congregation has the opportunity to serve and to live their calling more faithfully.

We understand ourselves to be part of Christ’s universal Church when by adoration, proclamation, and service we become conformed to Christ. We are initiated and incorporated into this community of faith by Baptism, receiving the promise of the Spirit that re-creates and transforms us. Through the regular celebration of Holy Communion, we participate in the risen presence of Jesus Christ and are thereby nourished for faithful discipleship. If we are to offer our best gifts to the common Christian treasury, we must make a deliberate effort as a church to strive for critical self-understanding. It is as Christians involved in ecumenical partnership that we embrace and examine our distinctive heritage.