“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42 (NIV)
In the end, no one will ever be the loser in following hard after Christ, doing works in His great Name. The least good done by the weakest saint will be rewarded according to our Lord Jesus. We will never “outgive” God either. Whatever “meager” sacrifice we may make on this earth in furthering Christ’s kingdom and encouraging the saints presently – in the here and now - God will eternally more than recompense so that it will then not seem like a sacrifice at all. God does not despise the day of small things either and He will be no man’s debtor. The “least” act done among the “least” of these is highly regarded by the Master. He examines the heart and He rewards accordingly and He loves a cheerful giver, just as He is. This is certainly not just money. It includes our time, talents, work and words – and whatever else He presents for us to do for others. Nothing is to be beneath us or above us for that matter. Indeed, we are to be Jesus’ Hands, Feet and Words in the present.
When we have deeds of self-denying love, when we are patient and long suffering with others, when we are giving sacrificially apart from anyone knowing, and even if we perhaps presently reap ridicule, disapproval and abuse, in the end we will be the gainer not the loser. We can be certain of this. All acts done in His Name and for His glory will be both highly regarded and rewarded in God’s heavenly kingdom. God does not despise the smallest acts done in His Name and nothing goes past His all seeing eye – even down to the sincerity and motivation of the heart of the giver. One may be obscure here but in the Day of the Lord they shall be as kings glorified as the sun outshines a twinkling star. Christ will richly reward all service done for Him.
Presently, oftentimes self-denying deeds as well as kindness and patience go unrewarded or unnoticed to the world but never to God. Nothing gets past El Roi – the God Who sees me with His all-seeing eye. In our verse for today the Lord Jesus instructs us to give to the least of these and we are to do so generously and liberally – not sparingly - with an eye towards how we would desire to be treated. God loves a cheerful giver. Also, we are to live our lives for an audience of One with no expectation from humans rather from God alone, Who will be no man’s debtor. Our reward or return comes from Him Who is never meager in His giving rather Who gives “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. God will always outgive us. Further, at death it will be an unspeakable comfort to reflect upon a life well spent rather than one of continually grasping for ourselves. God loves a generous giver and what do we have that we did not first receive?
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”** Luke 6:38 (NIV)**