by Anonymous
Jesus taught the disciples about serving through His words and actions. In the Sermon on the Mount, He explained that public displays of good works did not please God: “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (Matthew 6:3, 4).
For me, serving in secret is a challenge due to the public nature of my ministry. But God provided a special assignment to teach me humility and the value of secret serving.
One day while my husband and I were engaged in fellowship near the ministry board at church, I noticed a small, typed note that seemed out of place among the colorful flyers promoting ministry opportunities. When I scanned the words, I learned a family needed assistance with their disabled adult daughter. The early morning hours they required did not intimidate me.
I knew in an instant this could be for me. Helping this family would allow me to serve my Lord without distractions of applause and accolades, as in my more visible ministry. I had a great desire to serve the Lord, and Him alone. When I accepted God’s assignment, I knew it had to be done in secret.
From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus demonstrated that serving the Lord does not require an audience. He performed His first miracle at the request of His mother at a wedding in Cana. After stating His time had not yet come, Jesus gave in to His mother’s request to rescue the wedding party from humiliation when the wine ran out prematurely. Jesus turned water to wine in a quiet room where only the servants could observe the miracle. The guests were not aware that the amazing wine stood in waterpots moments before (John 2:1-11).
Jesus continued His ministry in the countryside of Galilee where He could minister without attracting the attention of the Jewish leaders or the Roman authorities. Many times Jesus told those He had healed to keep quiet about the miracle. After healing a man with leprosy, He told him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (Matthew 8:4).
Jesus warned the disciples against public displays of service: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (6:1). Unlike the hypocrites (Pharisees and teachers of the law), Jesus expected His followers to avoid sounding the trumpet to call attention to their good deeds (see v. 2).
However, some of the disciples found it challenging to understand Jesus’ teaching. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah and looked forward to the public praise that would come when He reigned as King. After the brothers, James and John, asked to be seated next to Him in His kingdom, Jesus admonished them that to be great, one had to be a servant. To be recognized first, one had to be a slave. Jesus wanted them to follow His example: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (20:28).
After contacting the family with the disabled daughter, I joyfully accepted God’s assignment to serve. I have been their part-time caregiver for a year now. Only my husband and a couple of close friends know that I’m serving in this way. God placed this young lady in my life to help me stay humble and experience the blessings of serving in secret. I look forward to hearing Jesus say one day, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (25:40).
