Look what I did!

Facebook has given me a lot of inspiration for blog posts, and today is no exception. This month is pastor appreciation month, and I encourage you to do something for your pastor (and his wife!) to show how much they mean to you. Unfortunately the person on Facebook decided to do something for their pastor and to post in great detail what they were going to do. It really felt like they were saying 'Please! Look at me and see all the wonderful things I'm going to do, because, if I'm going to do a good deed, I would like to get as much praise from it as I can'.
Now I want to say first off, that doing good things for people is wonderful! It is also human nature to want a pat on the back when we get done, but it's not God's way of doing a good deed. You see, as a Christian, if we do a good deed for others to praise us, then we are doing it for all the wrong reasons! We are supposed to be doing everything for the honor and glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31)
Jesus talked about this in his 'Sermon on the Mount'. He was talking about a people group called the Pharisees, who looked religious on the outside, but were very evil on the inside. This is not saying that those who let people know of their good deeds are evil, actually they are probably doing it with good intentions, I am just stating the fact that it's not God's way of doing things. I must admit, I've told people what I've done a time or two, so I could get recognition, but when I did that, I was doing the good deed for the praise, and not for God anymore.

Jesus said:
'Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.'

Jesus said that when we let others know what we have done, then we get our reward then and there. If we wait for a heavenly reward, how much sweeter will it be! So the next time you want to support a missionary, help your pastor, volunteer at a homeless shelter, or when you want to fast, or be in prayer, don't be quick to let everyone know what you are doing (I mean, if you are trying to raise awareness for a cause, I understand that you want to let people know about it, but it doesn't mean you have to have an attitude of 'look what I've done'). Do good for Christ, and let him be the reward-er! If it seems like you will never get your reward, remember this verse:
'And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.' 
Galatians 6:9