Who Are We Doing It For?

Verse of the day: Judges 8:34-35, Thus the children of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; 35 nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

When we have the opportunity to be a blessing to others, how do we judge whether we should do it or not? Is there selfish motivation behind our acts of goodness towards others? Will we only do what is good for those who can do good to us in return? Do we give to those who are able to give back to us? Do we only do what is good for those we think will appreciate what we do for them? After all that Gideon did for Israel in leading them to freedom from the oppression of the Midianites, they refused to show his house kindness after he was gone. All too often, we pick and choose who we will be a blessing to, based on who we think will appreciate it or deserve it. I want to stop right there and remind each of us that God gave us His Son, in whom we have eternal life, even though we do not deserve it. Who are we to make that determination, or go against God’s leading, when He convicts us to do something that will be a blessing for someone else? If we are to be more like Jesus, then our attitude towards doing good for others should be like His. Matthew 5:45b tells us, “For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Jesus said this in Luke 14:12-14, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Gideon was obedient to the Lord, and served both God and Israel, not knowing that Israel would not show the same kindness to his house. There will be times when, in obedience, to God, we will do something good for someone, and be a blessing to them, only to be repaid with ingratitude, and even betrayal. However, the question to ask ourselves is, “Did I do it for them or did I do it for the Lord?” When God leads us to be a blessing in someone else’s life, we can be assured that regardless of whether the person(s) receives it with gratitude or not, our reward is with the Lord. Colossians 3:23-25 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Our focus and main concern in doing what we do in serving God and serving others is that God be glorified by what we do. The outcome of what we do in serving the Lord is in His hands and is not for us to concern ourselves with, because regardless of how it turns out, our reward is with the Lord Jesus.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).