Self Service

Matthew 6:2-4 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

It isn't always easy to do things for others, especially when the use of money is involved. We often strive to please those we love (i.e. our friends and family), yet at the same time, let's be honest, we like a little recognition. You could even say most even like the "thank yous" better than the giving of the gift itself. The fact is, it is sin nature to desire recognition along with everything we think we deserve.

Oppositely, we should always try to give our gratitude and thanks to Jesus. He gave us the greatest gift of all, one we needed but couldn't do ourselves. Leaving His seat in heaven to come to earth, live in a fleshly body and have human experiences (so anyone can relate to Him), and dying for his people. The God and Creator of the Universe did the most selfless and gracious thing possible for the most selfish people ever: us. Pastor Karl Alsin has pointed out in multiple sermons that grace is best defined as an acronym: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

God's grace covers unconditionally what you or I have done. It doesn't matter what our pasts are like, it doesn't matter what we've said, it doesn't even matter if we rejected Jesus prior in our lives (because everyone who's ever lived has). God chose us, dead in our sins, even though we have fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:9). We don't even have to do anything because thankfully, Jesus already did everything! This is good to know for all because I never would have chosen Him, and truth be told: nobody in the history of the entire earth ever would have either. We are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and dead people don't chose to be alive, they can't do it. Neither could I.

By grace I have been saved, and not by works, so that I cannot boast, because it was a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). The greatest gift of all didn't come on my birthday or Christmas, but over 2000 years ago on a cross when Jesus died. Because He did this, the Bible, as shown in the red letters above, presses Christians to do the same. Applicably, we should all strive to be a little less "hypocritical" and more like Jesus:  selfless and giving glory to God. I encourage any readers of this to follow in His footsteps and give graciously with what you can. Give your time or energy to someone, tithe what you can, talk to the awkward kid who may smell a little, stick up for what is right even if it makes you uncool, or spend time rebuilding a relationship with an old friend. All these things can be done to the glory of God, so take up the challenge with me to be less self serving and more of a servant to people and above all God.