Walk of Life – Day 13 – June 2021 – Thoughts from the Book of Proverbs. Fear Not!

Fear not for you shall be repaid with goodness

Proverbs 13:21 “Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.”

Many affluent people during this pandemic and even before its outbreak were seen doing many donations to the needy with various intentions. Few carried out these programs for publicity, few to attain ‘moksha’, and few to fulfill their vows. Most of them directly or indirectly did all these activities for their self-gain. We cannot deny that there are people who are genuine and are selfless while helping the needy.

However, during this pandemic, we must have seen many people coming out to give away their gold, money and riches, just in fear of losing their lives. They feared and thought God would protect them if they gave away their everything or little to the poor. In a nation where most of us believe and follow the saying ‘Service to man is service to God’ we forget how that service has to be done to be acceptable.

There is a Sunday School story which clearly explains us what God wants from us. One day two women who attended the same fellowship slept in the Lord. One woman was very rich and the other woman was poor. The rich woman was very active in serving the Lord, while she lived, she was the first one to donate alms to the poor people, and give great contributions for church activities. Every time she donated, she made it sure that it was of a good quality. Whereas the poor woman had very little for herself to survive. All she did was the cleaning work in the assembly. On that day when the both women were walking on the golden roads of heaven, they could see beautiful mansions built. The poor woman was given a mansion which was studded with diamonds and other precious stones. This made the rich woman happier as she thought how great her mansion is going to be. To her surprise she was handed a normal one. This made her curious to know what had actually happened. Then the angel replied,” It is what you send that builds your mansion. Except for selfishness, pride, and self-glory we have not received anything from you. So, this is what you are paid.”

Well, this is just a story. However, reality is not vey different from it. the verse says,” the righteous are rewarded with good.” Reward or a payment is given to those who work. No doubt, we all are working for the Lord. But, are you sure to get that ‘good reward’? From the story that we have read, it does not teach us to just be poor and sweep floors. If that was the case, all of us would be sweeping, then who would preach the Word of God? Who would lead us into worship through songs? God has called you with a unique plan and purpose. You have got a ministry to do. It can be preaching or singing or composing or praying or maintenance or many others. Make sure that whatever you are told to do by the Lord, do it to glorify Him alone, not for self-glorification or to please people.

This is what the righteous do, they recognize what the Lord wants them to do and do it exactly the way He wants them to do, and do it for His glory alone. That is the reason they are rewarded or repaid with good.

Also never fret to do good because those for whom you do, do not seem to repay it. Always remember God is no debtor of persons, whatever good you do, never expect a reward from men. Also, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Do it with all your heart and God will surely repay with goodness, may not be the way you expected it but He always knows best.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men.” Colossians 3:23