Serving in Secret

"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one."
(I Thessalonians 4:9-12, ESV)

Invisibility. Being unknown. In our day and age of viral videos launching people into world-wide fame, of competing social media sites, of seemingly incessant self-promotion, what does the daily life of a Christian look like? How do we interact with the availability or platforms to promote ourselves?

Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians is to continue to grow in what they've been doing: they are to continue to love one another in brotherly love. And the way they are to do this is not to promote their good works. Their giving, their love, should be done in secret. If they do it to be praised by others, they will have received their reward. They, however, should serve in secret, and thus receive their reward from the One Who sees in secret.

Serve humbly. Without fanfare. Live quietly. Work simply with your hands. Your audience is God. No other audience matters. Be faithful, even if no one else notices. Do not be weary of doing good. The God Who sees all sees your humble and faithful service. Internet fame is fleeting, even if it lasts for years. Be faithful to the One Who matters. He is worthy of praise; He is worthy of your service.


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