"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
�Matthew 6:3�4
I know someone who has what it seems like hundreds of medals from the triathlons he has done. I once dared him to go out in public wearing 30 of them. I said, "Let's go get a cup of coffee. Just walk around wearing them, and I will buy your coffee." He wouldn't do it.
Personally, I have never won a single medal. Maybe your experience has been the same. But there is an awards ceremony coming in which those who have faithfully served the Lord will be rewarded.
Often we think way too much about the here and now and not enough about the by-and-by. But in eternity, there will be rewards awaiting those who have put their faith in Christ and have given faithful service to Him.
Jesus said, "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me" (Matthew 25:35�36). He went on to explain, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (verse 40).
Think of all of those things you have done for God that no one ever saw: that sacrifice you made . . . that thing that you said . . . that person you forgave . . . that opportunity you seized . . . that gift you gave. No one saw. No one stood up and applauded and said, "Hey, look at what they just did!"
Here is what you need to know: God is watching. God is paying attention. God keeps very meticulous records. And God will reward you.
There are diversities of gifts of the Holy Spirit!
Why am I here on this earth to begin with? To bring glory to God. We are here/to bring glory. Lets take what God has given us time, resources, money to invest into God's Kingdom!
�We are to be ready, busy and faithful.
It is up to us what we do with what God gave us ....time, life, resources, spiritual gifts,
Your position before God is reflected in your finances, in giving them out to people who need them and food�if you are withholding them, it says about you. Giving is the universal practice, it is not an option. God Jesus was teaching us that. You should put aside some money for people to support them, feed them.... Each of us should do it. You miss out the blessing God if you do not do it.
'Sin of omission' is not doing good things....what you or I should do. Let�s take our time, resources, money and use it for the God�s glory. We are supposed to be busy serving to God.
God Jesus said: "I was naked, you did not dress me...I was hungry, you did not give Me food..."
�Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.�
The Scripture said that we as Christians will face the Judgment seat of Christ. There is the reward ceremony coming:angel:. God knows, pays attention. He watches. Rewards are given out. What did you do with your gifts, abilities, time and money? Do you live against God Jesus and His teaching? Or are you for Him? Do you support people, feed them, dress them, heal them, support them, pray for them, love them?
God calls you to righteousness and love :hearts:for people. You should use all your resources to implement the will of God on earth. Because we all will give account for what we did on earth. God is the Judge and the Judge Jesus is coming back to establish His reign on earth and JUDGE us all. That's why we should OBEY and APPLY what He COMMANDS in His Scripture.
I remember how faithful is our brother Richard in his service to God and I do not stop saying gratitude for Richard and his service. Such we all should be, living in faithfulness to God because God is FAITHFUL to every one of us desiring to save us and not to destroy with the wicked.
1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body�whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free�and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, �Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,� is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, �Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,� is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, �I have no need of you�; nor again the head to the feet, �I have no need of you.� 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant:bow:, then you shall be a special treasure:glow: to Me above all people;
for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests:angel: and a holy nation:angel:.� These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.�
