why do we give?

today's daily bread devotion was on why do we give. it says of people giving to charities not because of altruism, but because there benefits for them, like chances to win a prize or something. the author of the devotional then goes on to say that our giving should be out of pure motives. he quoted matthew 6:3, "When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." the devotional concluded by saying our generosity should be God-centered, not to make us look good, but to please the Lord. ask ourselves when doing our next good deed: if i knew that no one would ever find out that i did this, would i still do it? of course, God knows all our deeds, and will reward accordingly la.

well it came to my mind it's so often that i too, do things with the intention to please people. me being a peaceful person, always wanting to get along with everyone, you know, the kind of person i am. there're many things we do for the people we love, but we also so often make it known to the person what we did for them. i asked myself the same question before, if nobody knew what i did, will i still do it? yeah i guess sometimes i will, but sometimes, i hope someone finds out. haha.. well, from another perspective, letting the person know what you did for him/her tells that person that you really care and love for him/her la, so it might be a good thing too. my issue is that to the person i like, the things i do for her, should i let her know? haha.. loving someone is to do the things for his/her good, so as long as it's for his/her good, he/she doesn't have to know. but then, i hope she'll find out, then maybe be touched by what i've done, and... you know... lol.

erm.. as i'm typing this, God kinda spoke to my heart. she doesn't have to know. if she needs to know, God will tell her, via various ways la. if she's the one for me, then i need not worry if she knows what i did for her, whether she'll be touched or not. haha..

ok Lord Father, it doesn't matter whether anyone ever knows what i did for them, unless it encourages or benefits them. i know you are in control of everything. you called me to love everyone around me, and so i will. as long as You know the deeds i've done, that'll be sufficient. change me, Lord, that truly this mindset will sink in into my heart. doing it all for You, Lord. In Jesus' name i pray, amen.