It should ring in Our Ears

Matthew 6:1-4

“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.”

Have you considered how blessed you are to live in one of the nations that give you the ability to live life and have freedom from government control.  The United States of America is such a nation at this time, but as we learned, freedom does not come from government, nor from Constitutions, but from the hand of God.  If you are a follower of Christ living in the United States you have seen the outpouring of love, in the gift given to those all over the world, not by government but by individuals who give to their churches, the Samaritans Purse, The Salvation Army, and the list keeps going, and in most cases it is to help someone they have never met.
Jesus had this to say to such givers; “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”  As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me, should ring in our ears. 
But Jesus always looks at the heart and not the act!  If the act is to be acknowledged by others for you services, Jesus is telling us we have no reward from your Father in heaven.  It has been a journey for this writer to come to the place of believing God tells the truth, and it is more blessed to give than to receive.  We must be very careful our gifts are not exposed so that when we see Jesus, He can say, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice