Day 34 of the 40 Days of Purpose

"Thinking Like a Servant"

One of the most difficult things to do in ministry as a "preacher" is to encourage in ministry by recognizing people for what they do. This is difficult, not in that you don't want to do it but i that it is hard to recognize everyone who needs recognition, and you always run the risk of hurting someone. This adds another difficulty, for there are those who constantly want to be recognized for what they do and it seems their motivation for service is to gain the recognition. Jesus warned about this motivation:

(Mat 6:1-6 NIV) "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. {2} "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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. {3} 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. {5} "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. {6} But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.