Did You Notice?

There was once a group of people who decided to "adopt a family" at Christmas time.  They pooled their money, did some shopping and wrapping and had collected quite a pile of presents.  So the day came to deliver.  And so they went.  All of them.  They were pretty proud of themselves after all. They had been working on this for a while and had been imagining how appreciative this poor family would be.  They wanted to see the look on their faces.

The receivers that night had quite a crowd on their porch.  Their reaction was one off shock and appreciation, sure.  But there was also some embarrassment mixed in to boot.  The whole situation turned pretty awkward.  Now there is no way to know what everyone's motivation was that night, but is curious that everyone felt a need to go.  At some level they wanted a little recognition for their troubles.

 

Motivation is a funny thing.  When helping someone in need, in some ways it doesn't matter at all. In other ways, it is the only thing that does matter.  It doesn't matter because, for those in need, if they get help it really doesn't matter the motive.  But for the one helping, it matters.  A Lot.  It matters because the answer to the motivation explains what you expect to get out of it.  

If your expectation for helping those in need is to be appreciated by the recipient or those around you, you may be a bit disappointed.  On the TV show Seinfeld one of the characters was putting money into a tip jar, but was discouraged that no one saw them.  They tried to do it again in a more obvious way so that they could get credit for what they gave, and the story went on from there.  Is it about the giving or the recognition?

A Christians we are called to meet the needs of others, not for a reward or a sense of recognition,but to meet the needs of others as God commands.  The Bible teaches that when we get Man's appreciation, then we have received our reward.  In Full.

As Christians we meet the needs of others because they are God's children too and God is glorified when His children help each other.  That's it.

Watch this clip from Pastor Chris.

None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes.  We all sin and fall short.  If we forgive and help each other, then, God is in a position to help us.