Many years ago, while we were serving in stateside missions, I encountered a situation that had a profound influence on me. It changed the way I feel about doing for others.

Because our congregation was so small, we had to make many adjustments in our doing for those outside our congregation and for one another. Giving a bridal or baby shower was not the big event to which I was accustomed. It was a small gathering in the home of one of the ladies (usually ours). Pot luck dinners meant each family cooking a full meal, not just one dish. Taking food to the home of a bereaved family was non-existent. That was just something the ladies didn’t do.

When the relative of one of our members died, I decided to encourage the ladies to prepare a meal. Each one told me what she would prepare, and I arranged a time to pick up the food to deliver it to the family. One of the ladies told me not to pick up her dish because she would be delivering it herself. She said, “I want them to know I fixed it. If you take it, they won’t know it came from me.” I was shocked! We were hoping this would be something for which the church would receive credit, not individuals.

Over the years I have encountered others who wanted to be glorified for their good deeds. Scripture teaches that this is not what God wants. Paul told the Colossians, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 ESV). Later in that same chapter, Paul gave them some rules to guide their homes. He gave instructions to wives, husbands, children, fathers, and servants. Then he said, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Jesus spoke plainly about this behavior. His most powerful rebuke was to the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Look at some of the things He said to them:

• They preach but do not practice what they preach.
• They are not willing to do what they ask others to do.
• They do things just to be seen by others.
• They love places of honor.
• They like to be called by special titles.
• They put some out of the synagogue.
• They neglected some.
• They appeared to be holy, but they were corrupt.
• They were greedy and selfish.

These were men that knew the Old Testament. They knew the feasts that were to be observed. Jesus told the people to obey what these Pharisees told them about the Law but not to behave the way they behaved (Matthew 23:3). Jesus said, “For they preach, but do not practice.” They obeyed the Law because they wanted to be recognized for their good deeds.

We all like to receive honor for what we do, but Jesus says our reward will be in heaven. If we receive honor here, that is our reward. Over the years I have discovered great pleasure in doing things for others without their knowing from whom it came. At least once a year I encourage the ladies in my Tuesday night class to do something for someone without revealing their identity. They send cards, buy little gifts, even send flowers as a way to encourage each other or someone they know that needs a special surprise. They always talk about how they feel when they have been able to do something special for someone.

In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a lame man. The man begged for money, but they had no money. They gave him what they could, the ability to walk. People crowded around them because of this great miracle, but look at what Peter said. “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” They took no credit for what they had done. They gave the credit to God.

Determine that you will do something for someone, something that will bring joy to someone else but no credit to you. Stand back and watch the reaction, and know that you did it with no expectation for praise or honor. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

 Sandra Oliver