Spirituality and Faith – Tooting your own will get you in trouble
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Spirituality and Faith
Dr. Jeff Fuller
Tooting your own will get you in trouble
Editor’s note: This column was originally published in our July 25, 2014, edition.
People go around bragging and boasting about what they have done, tooting their horn for all to hear those amazing things they have accomplished. There once was a preacher who was fond of saying, “He who tooteth not his own horn; his horn getteth rusty.” That might be fine if you are a trumpet player, but…
Is it right to brag and boast about the wonderful things you have done? You take a meal to a shut in, put a tank of gas in the neighbor’s car, buy groceries for a family who is experiencing a difficult time, and go around telling everyone what you have done; is this the way we are to do ministry?
Jesus said in Matthew 6, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men…they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)
My attempt in assisting others in their spiritual walk is to encourage and teach them that they do what God leads them to do, not saying anything about it. I remind them it is best to do the good deed and leave it there. Keep it quiet; let God reward you for your acts of kindness.
The woman with the two mites in the temple comes to mind. The scripture says:
“[Jesus] watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow…dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. He said to them, ‘I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury…they gave out of their surplus…she out…poverty has put in everything she possessed; all she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:41-44 HCSB)
The religious leaders and the elite were known to take their money, toss it into the jar, making a huge show as they gave their offering. People turned their heads in the direction of the sound, giving attention to the rich. Not so with the little widow woman.
This poor little widow did not have much and not desirous of attention. As a matter of fact no one gave her much notice as she eased through the complex, hiding waiting for that moment when no one was watching. She eased through the crowd keeping away from the eyes of others. Quietly placing her last two coins, worth not much more than a penny today, in the jar she eased back into the shadows.
While the elite rulers and teachers gave great deal of attention, making a show of their giving, the little widow was quietly giving all she had without pretense. Jesus was able to reward her by saying, “she [gave more] out of her poverty.”
We have more than this widow woman, with the ability to help in many ways, the question to answer is who are we trying to impress? Do we give so others might see and praise us or is it because we love Jesus and want Him to be pleased with us? The Bible clearly says that we will be rewarded; our reward will either be temporary or eternal.
As we aid and assist others in this life, receiving praise, pats on the back, and impressive plaques, we are receiving temporal rewards. When we perform quiet acts of kindness; we give and no one knows who acted in a tangible way we are building up those eternal rewards. It is more important to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) It is more vital to us that God praise us than have our name written in the papers. It is more satisfying to know we are seen by God and praised by Him!
Let me encourage you to give. Give so others might know the love and goodness of God, and let your rewards come from the hand of God. He will remember. He will reward.
Until next time…
Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama. You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email at rbccoosa@gmail.com.