In Secret

Diana Kathrina Leomo via Flickr

I.        Vows of Affirmation

“We devote our daily life to God, and to serving our neighbors as images of God”

5. I will daily seek to do good for someone without reward or recognition.

We love to make our decisions on cost-benefit analyses. Will the costs and the gains at least equalize, if not bring significant reward? But the way of Jesus often leaves behind this safe, business-wise pragmatism—at least at first glance. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you for righteousness sake and utter all kinds of evil against you on my account.” Really!? The costs look a lot more painful than the ambiguous “blessedness” gain! “Love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return.” What kind of foolish risk is this? 

Yet it is the wisdom of Jesus: “Let each of you look not to your own interest, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God…emptied himself taking the form of a slave…and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him…and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There it is. What at first seems like utter stupidity in the cost-benefit schema turns out to yield the highest return possible in God’s payment system! And so also our fifth affirmative vow defers initial reward for a greater one: “I will daily seek to do good for someone without reward or recognition.”

For Reflection and Action:

Listen to the parts of Jesus’ sermons in Matthew 5:43-6:4. Then read Paul’s closing encouragement in Galatians 6:7-10.

1. Who in your life is God calling you to love even though they probably won’t return the favor?
2. What are/were your opportunities to “work for the good of all” today?
3. In what ways have you sown this good “to your own flesh,” that is, for your own personal recognition, convenience or gain? In what ways did you sow the good “to the Spirit,” that is, for the sake and reputation of God’s kingdom and all the people within it?
4. How might this love today be offered “in secret” to the Spirit, so as not to seek your own reward?
5. Where do you need encouragement so you “do not grow weary in doing what is right?”

Prayer Focus

Self-emptying God, give us the courage to move beyond cost-benefit assessment,

give us the courage to repay evil with good—no matter what.

Just as Jesus gave up the possibility of recognition and accolades,

privilege and convenience, or equal and immediate repayment,

Strengthen us to work for the good of all today,

for the sake of your kingdom alone.

May it be so in us.