There are so many needs to be met amongst the most destitute in our societies. There are animals that are neglected and the grannies left to fend for themselves— often disabled and on barely mentionable pensions. There are the homeless and hungry individuals by the thousands and then of course the general needs of society to maintain a liveable environment that has been totally run down by an uninterested government.

There are also many helping hands and willing community members who believe that it is their duty as fellow humans to meet these needs or play a part in doing so for those so much less privileged than most of us are.

To do so with the sole objective of helping to make another’s life a little more bearable is a beautiful thing. To do so for applause is a little less so.

We are all on some form of social media, whether it’s the now old-fashioned Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Threads. I’m sure that many like me have reels popping up daily of do-gooders performing acts of kindness. I’ve watched as people have food, clothing, materials to build a dwelling place, and even petrol handed to them. The gratitude is filmed, the hugs, the tears, and the overwhelming thank-yous along with the dozens of hashtags! The recipients’ faces are usually in full view of the camera lens…

All good, right?

I’m not too sure about that.

I’ve often wondered how it must feel to be the person on the receiving end of the donation with a phone camera recording every emotion for a content-hungry world to devour. Are they ever asked to redo the scene because it didn’t look as dramatic as the “influencer” wanted it to?

I read in the Bible that we are not to put our good deeds on display as our reward from God will be replaced with the reward of admiration from our audience. Even back then with no iPhones to record their deeds on and no social media to receive all the “likes” and comments on, they were still warned about publicizing their acts of kindness!

I wonder what that reward looks like that we are so willing to give up for someone’s applause. I remember a song from the 80’s by Ray Boltz called “Thank You”. It’s about a guy who dreams he went to Heaven and there he met all the people whose lives he had knowingly and unknowingly changed with his generosity and acts of kindness. God speaks to him and shows him the rewards that have been collected for him because of these acts. The words are “GREAT is your reward”.

I don’t know about you, but I really love people. I love making a difference to them and letting them know above all that they are seen and valued by God Himself. 

I look forward to a reward, although the reward of seeing something change for the better in their lives is enough for now. I definitely do not want to lose out by settling for the immediate gratification of the world’s applause. I, like all my fellow humans, like to be seen. As all human beings, I also enjoy the sound of applause. The question is -would I exchange Gods approval for a couple of likes and thumbs up emojis? Absolutely not!

Think before you whip out your phone to film another’s hardship or turn on the front camera to film yourself as you swoop in to assist them. Think of how precious it would be to tell not a single soul about what you have done and to keep it just between you, the person who was blessed by you, and God who saw it all and was so pleased with you. A special secret that you can relish all by yourself!

The most generous people I know tell nobody what they have done or given. In fact, if you ask them about an incident where they did something amazing, they brush it off and won’t discuss it. It’s enough for them that it was a ‘Mitzvah’ before God, and His approval is sufficient.

The left hand and the right hand do not need to know what each does. Let us keep busy bringing love to a hurting world, but let us go about our business quietly!

“Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father. So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, like the hypocrites in the streets and in the marketplace. They’ve already received their reward! But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself. Give SECRETLY and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Mitzvah-Commonly interpreted it as “a good deed.” The term mitzvah comes from the root word tzavta, which means “connection.” What makes a mitzvah a mitzvah is its emphasis on action.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4GVxsMPwh9RflOcPSZP05W?si=ja8rRYBcRPeeVzyUdMmtTQ

We all have a different perspective about the here and now. For some it’s the struggle of a daily existence of pain and suffering. Perhaps its dire poverty or a relentless illness or a difficult situation.

For some it’s the hope of the next good thing – what I will afford next year, the job I’ll have in 6 months, finishing  my studies in the foreseeable future or an upcoming event that we look forward to.

For some there’s a sense of satisfaction or full enjoyment of the here and now- how much they have, fame and popularity, possessions, influence and admirers.

For some others it’s the dread of another day, another week and another year of a draining reality, marriage or job- the endless daily battle they struggle to survive.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says we have been created with eternity in our hearts, an understanding that there is more. 

There are those who look forward to the ‘more’ with a hope in their hearts and there are those who choose to ignore that this what we know right now is not the ‘be all and end all’. What’s here and now seems pretty good so why mess with it or question its longevity?

I remember when we were kids we used to love blowing soap bubbles outside and then trying to catch them. Inevitably these pretty bubbles popped as we touched them or even before. What was perfect and shiny became nothing before our eyes. Such are the beautiful shiny things in life – lovely and perfect until in the blink of an eye they are gone. In the same way, wealth, fame, popularity and even health can come and go in an instant.

What lies beyond the stuff we carry in our perfectly orchestrated or severely flawed lives?

That for me is where the hope of an eternity is a reminder of how temporary our lives and our pleasures here on earth are. 

In the well known song by Queen”Who wants to live forever “ there’s a line that says “What is this thing that builds our dreams, yet slips away from us?”

I was reminded a few days ago of the suffering my mom endured for the past 7 years. 

For those 7 years it seemed like an eternity. Day in and day out she got weaker and more confused. Her physical and mental condition got so bad that that’s what we focused on. We forgot the beautiful and vibrant woman she was before and wondered if this would ever end. And then suddenly it was over and we could reminisce about the good old days before Illness took over.  What seemed like a lifetime of bad health at the time now seems like a blink of an eye. Her focus was always on her eternity. She didn’t live in terrible fear of what would happen here but looked past the worst possibilities to a glorious future that was promised to her. 

Some worship the god of ‘ME’ and some look to the God of forever. 

Whoever is on your altar, tomorrow is a sure thing. Make sure your worship is wisely directed. After all your future depends on it!

“I am convinced that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us. All creation longs for freedom from its slavery to decay and to experience with us the wonderful freedom coming to God’s children. Troubles, pressures, and problems are unable to come between us and heaven’s love. What about persecutions, deprivations, dangers, and death threats? No, for they are all impotent to hinder omnipotent love, So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love.” Romans 8:18, 21, 35, 38 TPT

“He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 GNT