Give in Secret and Experience True Joy

                    Have you had your Joy Juice today?  God continues to stir up fresh batches just for you! 

We are talking this week about “secrets”.  God knows our secrets and loves us through them all….even the hard ones. Let’s go to the book of Matthew, Chapter 6 and read about some secrets to a heart of joy. The first four verses say:

“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 Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, 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, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

            In most cases, it’s not our human nature to be “givers”.  And when we do, we want everyone to know! We want recognition! THAT is why we need to give God control of that area of our lives (as well as all areas). When God’s in control, we will learn to give cheerfully and generously for the right reasons…out of our love for Him.

          Look for opportunities to share the love and joy of Jesus…but let’s remember: “Do not tooteth thine own horn!”  Instead, give in secret and experience true joy.