Scripture
Mathew 6:4
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.
Devotional: Rewards For Things Done In Secret
There was a couple in my church (500+ in attendance) who had three young children. I had never met them before but had seen them from time to time on Sunday mornings. One Sunday morning during worship, I looked over to my left and saw the couple from a distance. When I looked at them it was like I had tunnel vision. I was not aware of anyone but them. Then I had an overwhelming thought I sensed was from God. In my mind I heard “give them a thousand dollars.” I immediately just turned this thought back over to the Lord and asked him to lead me if this was from him.
Two months later at Christmas time, a close friend and I decided to partner in doing some outreach ministry. We purchased children's gifts and made arrangements with the local hospital to give them to the children that were having an extended stay and would not be home for Christmas. The day that we gave out the gifts, we had many that were left over because there were not enough children to give all of them to. My friend told me that there was a family at our church, who had small children, that God had really put on her heart to pray for. She asked me if it would be okay to give them the remaining gifts. I said “yes.” When she told me their names and asked me if I knew them I replied, “I don't know them.” I had no idea who she was talking about.
A couple of days past and my friend called me on the phone and told me that she had met with the family and initially got a hint that they were having financial troubles, so she gave them the gifts. She explained to me how the mother wept as she gave her the gifts for the children. The mom then told my friend she had been really bothered because they had no money to buy Christmas gifts with. The mom shared that they were behind on bills and the financial pressure was great.
The next Sunday during church my friend pointed out to me the family from a distance. It was the same family that I was looking at when I had the thought to give them a thousand dollars. Now I knew that God was confirming to me that I had heard him correctly. I sent them two cashiers checks in the mail for $500 each, for two weeks in a row. On the line where you are supposed to place your name, I wrote God loves you. I never told anyone who they were, not even my friend and the family does not know that it was me who gave the money. It's a secret between me and the Lord and he will reward me for giving him the credit instead of them knowing that the gift came through my hands.
