Credit

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Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
-Jesus, Matthew 6:4 (he says it two more times in verse 6 and 18)​

We're in a family season full of conversations about AP courses and college preparation as our two sons head into their senior year of high school. I find it obnoxious that taking an advanced placement exam for each class costs a lot of money (I mean, I find spending money as a whole to be irritating already). Then I found out that one of the AP classes that my son is taking won't actually lighten his college course load in the future. And I found myself saying out loud to him, "Why would you do that if you're not going to get any credit for it?"

Sometimes our own words are what we need to hear. So for a few days I've been thinking about getting credit for the things we do, and how incredibly difficult it is to embrace the way of Jesus—a way that often calls us to do just the opposite of that. A way that invites us to do things that get us no credit. 

Today I'm considering what it means to have a vibrant "secret life." I know how that sounds. Most of the time it's used to talk about somebody who has a dark past with a fake identity and a second family on the side that no one knows about or something like that. But I'm looking at the other side of it. I'm wondering if we've lost the ability (or the desire?) to do good things that no one knows about? 

I try not to be one of those people who constantly complain about new technology and cultural realities. And yet, one of the trademarks of this current stage of human history is that everything is public. Underneath GoFundMe campaigns there is a scrolling list: Henry V. gave $25! Instagram stories are full of pictures of someone peacefully sitting in the woods: "Just me and God for a little prayer time! #blessed." Snapchat allows people into every moment of another's day. Facebook gives us the chance to share all the good and exciting things we're up to. And of course, don't forget about the timeless, low-tech temptation to drop comments into our conversations about the good things that we've accomplished lately or how hard we've been working or how we helped someone the other day. 

It's fine that others see or hear about positive things that we do. It can absolutely be an encouragement to them sometimes, and there is purpose in letting people see the way that our faith motivates us to live. But there’s great value in doing good that no one ever learns about, and it shapes our egos profoundly. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus talks to his disciples about giving to those in need. He specifically says "when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do...." 
Interestingly, the charity boxes in the temple were shaped and marked like trumpets and placed in very visible locations, so that everyone would notice when someone gave. So it's no mystery that Jesus is referencing this temple offering and reminding his disciples that the point of generosity—the point of goodness—is the beauty of the action itself, not the praise or admiration one receives for the action. 

Jesus uses this refrain three times in the Sermon on the Mount: "Then your Father in heaven will see what you've done in secret and reward you." He says it regarding financial generosity, prayer, and fasting (ie, spiritual practices). Each time he suggests that we intentionally have a secret element to how we live out our discipleship, so that there are things that only God knows. And when that happens, it allows us to receive something beautiful and unique from God, that we simply can't get elsewhere. 

Now, I'm not a big fan of reward motivation. The way of Jesus seems to me to be such a desirable way to live because it is essentially good, with no need of extra incentives. But Jesus does remind us that as we live out the way of love, it will somehow come back to us mysteriously from God. And maybe we need that incentive for this one, because it's just so doggone hard these days to not seek credit for all of our work. 

Are there areas today where you can develop your secret life a bit more? Are there opportunities for generosity that you can do that no one will ever know about? Maybe it's offering kindness to a stranger. Maybe it's going on a prayer walk without telling anyone that you did something so spiritually impressive today. Maybe it's quietly helping with something at neighbor's house (you should get permission though or you might get arrested) or cleaning up trash at a park... And see how it feels to do all of it just because it's the right and beautiful thing to do, with no one to see it but God. See what happens when you trust Jesus to fill those dopamine needs. And watch how God shapes you in the process. 

You may just find that there's freedom in it, and that there's an expanding world under the surface of your life that Jesus wants to work with, that no one ever sees. You might just find yourself experiencing God in a whole new way. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

Lord, invite me into secret moments with you today that no one else knows about. 

Peace,
Keith