June 14, 2005

[Rev. Doc]

Who Really Needs To Know?

"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."
Matthew 6:3-4

Charles Spurgeon and his wife, according to a story in the Chaplain magazine, would sell, but refused to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, "You may have them if you pay for them." As a result some people labeled the Spurgeons greedy and grasping.

They accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeons where unwilling to let their left hand know what the right hand was doing, they endured the attacks in silence.

When we face criticism our first reaction is to defend ourselves in our giving. However, such an action takes praise from the Father and places it on our own lives. No one need know but the Father above our actions of charity.

Prayer: Ask God to help you always give Him the glory in all you do, even if you are the only one to know.

"When God's work is done in God's way for God's glory, it will never lack God's supply."
~J. Hudson Taylor