URC Daily Devoltion for 4-11-2025

Jesus said: “‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.  ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Reflection

Today’s passage concerns the importance of giving without seeking recognition or praise; true giving comes from genuine compassion and generosity rather than a desire for public acclaim.

Jesus instructed his followers to give generously and with a pure intention. He emphasized the importance of giving in secret, without seeking recognition or praise from others. Instead, Jesus encouraged his disciples to give with a sincere heart, solely to please God. He shifted the focus from seeking approval from people to seeking spiritual fulfilment through acts of generosity.

Have you ever thought about the intentions behind your acts of giving? Jesus reminds us that true giving comes from a place of selflessness and a desire to honour God, rather than seeking validation from others. We strengthen our connection with God, and cultivate a sense of humility in our actions, by giving in secret.

Are you driven by a desire for God’s approval or the praise of others?

Let this teaching guide you towards a more authentic and humbler walk with God.

Prayer

God of humility,
we so often behave as if life is all about us,
showing off all we do and hiding all we neglect,
putting others down instead of building them up
and dwelling on what others have done wrong,
with hardly a thought to our mistakes.
Forgive us and grant us the will to change.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen