Keeping Secrets

Most of us are keeping some type of secret this time of year. We hide boxes in closets or pray that Amazon delivers while loved ones are not at home. We conspire by text and phone about surprise gifts and visits. One of my favorite memories is my years of participating in a Secret Santa fellowship. This involved picking a name from the group from bible study at church and blessing them during the season and in the upcoming year for events like birthdays, anniversaries, or just because gifts to show love. You kept your identity a secret from the recipient, avoiding handwritten notes and choosing delivery methods that would keep even the most curious mind guessing. The whole idea was to bless the person. It was all about them and not you. The reveal at the next Christmas season when we all found out who was who was so joyful, and the bonds that were forged by mystery lasted for years. This particular tradition truly brought me more joy to give than to receive. As a child, we did this in our large family by drawing names and keeping them a secret. I loved watching the joy on my parent’s faces as they exchanged gifts with their siblings and inlaws.

Now that Christmas is coming, we have many opportunities to give to various causes. Churches have unique campaigns for needs within the body, community, and senior centers. Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army all symbolically and literally ring their bells for our help. Now, what to do?. While the scriptures command us to generally help the poor and the needy, the words of Jesus are precise about how to help. The focus on giving, especially at this time of year, often makes us feel good about ourselves. We take personal pride in boxing up food and gathering toys, and we often need to be more discreet about it. I recently witnessed a person giving money to the Salvation Army outside a store, waving the 20$ bill, and making eye contact with others before slipping it into the pot. We can’t resist “leaking info” about our good deeds, even in casual discussions among friends and family.

This just doesn’t happen at Christmas. Or just in the community. The body of the faithful can be just as proud in sharing what they have helped purchase in the sanctuary, classrooms, and families in need; the list is endless. It is like being in the scouts, earning our giving badge, and sewing it on the sash; why does this happen? Pride. Period. We want so much to partner with God and try to get a little credit for His righteousness. He has imparted to us that our flesh will use any means and methods to elevate ourselves rather than surrender that He alone is worthy. To serve Him honorably is to serve with humility. Remember that part of the original sin in the garden was the desire to be god-like. Sometimes, we justify our actions by claiming we want to encourage others to give. The Bible speaks to this in Hebrews:10 about spurring each other on to good deeds, but God has provided ways for us to be encouraging and discreet.

“The words of Jesus Himself say it with such clarity that there is no mistaking His intent on how we are to give…”Matthew 6: 1-4.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your heavenly Father. So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the street. To be honored by others. Truly, I tell you they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so you’re giving may be secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done secretly, will reward you.

Yikes! Nothing is left to the imagination or the interpretative mind. A moment on the mountain certainly put the art of giving in perspective! Christ wants us to give out of love and give in love. Giving for the wrong reason is identified here as short-term satisfaction. Our good deeds are done out of a desire to feel better about ourselves and cater to our self-proclaimed generosity, which is like a vapor. It evaporates immediately. If we learn to thrive on this “feeling” often, we turn to bigger and better ways to be recognized and draw attention to ourselves. This sends the message that it’s all about me and not Jesus. By the way, these scriptures are followed a few verses down about how we cannot serve two masters. The love of things( materialism) always opposes our commitment to God and His ways. Our love for earthly treasures always influences how we give and how much.

If we are discreet and get discovered in our giving, it can become an opportunity to show honor and gratitude for Christ, who has so richly blessed us. A simple way to testify is simply by saying, “We love because He first loved us.” Sometimes in our lives, we have felt impressed to give something and are always surprised when folks share they were praying about how their need might be met. We should not be surprised that the God of the universe, who sees all and knows all, can orchestrate a timely gift with a timely need. That is not about how thoughtful or clever or even generous we are; it is about how thorough and the lengths the Lord will go to. To demonstrate His blessings and in keeping His promises. He does not need us to do this but instead invites us as secret givers to join in on the joy of the surprise. A joy that will not evaporate but fulfill us.

I picture a reveal party in heaven where God will show us how He put the givers and the needers together in His perfect timing to accomplish His purposes for our good and for His glory. As I celebrate this Christmas, let me, oh Lord, be thankful for you who came and gave up your life to save humanity, all of us; this is your indescribable gift.

Lord, let me give like you came, quietly and humbly. Help me skip the fanfare and the glamour of giving and, in its place, seek the secret place where my ego and pride are subdued and your provisional love for us all is magnified.

Come back to the vineyard when the 5 o’clock worker celebrates Christmas and closes out the series Moments on the Mountain in the final devotion, All the Wonder, None of the Worry: