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Secret Giver Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles – John :1–26 Be careful not practice your righteousness in front of others be seen by them. Matthew 6:1 Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 6:1–4 For Christopher, a physically disabled veteran, everyday activities had become more challenging, took longer to finish, and increased his pain. Still, he did his best to serve his wife and . Passersby would see him using a push-mower to cut his lawn every week. One day, Christopher received a letter—and an expensive riding lawnmower—from an anonymous donor. The secret giver’s satisfaction came through the privilege of helping someone in need. Jesus doesn’t say that all our giving should be in secret, but He does remind us to check our motives when we give (Matthew 6:1). He also said: “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” (v. 2). While God expects us to be openhanded givers, He encourages us to avoid doing good deeds in front of people for the purpose of receiving accolades or special recognition (v. 3). When we realize everything we have comes from God, we can be secret givers who don’t need to pat our own backs or gain the admiration of others. Our all-knowing Giver of all good things delights in the genuine generosity of His people. Nothing beats the reward of His approval. Reflect & Pray How has God helped you through someone else’s secret giving? Who can you help with an anonymous gift today? Loving God, please bless me with opportunities to give as selflessly and sacrificially as You have given to me. 
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I love giving, but for there to be givers, there has to be receivers and I have been both. Two times came right to my mind when reading this. One was near Thanksgiving. We had not bought a turkey yet, finances were tight and we were waiting for my husband's paycheck right before the holiday. I happened to look outside and say something strange on our mailbox by the road. There was a large turkey, already thawed and in a pan, ready to cook. Another time, just a few days before we were to leave for church conference in Tulsa, I was making a couple frozen peanut butter pies. When I went to put them in the freezer, there was ice buildup so they wouldn't set level. I took the butcher knife to chip the ice away and rammed it right into the bottom of the freezer, and killed the whole appliance when gas escaped. There was no time or finances to replace it, so we used an ice chest to keep necessities cold. I told our pastor's wife and we laughed, but upon return from conference, pastor told the story at church. After church, two men approached us. One had an older refrigerator to give us until we could get a better one, so we picked it up that afternoon. The other man said that his wife would meet us at the store later that week, and we were to pick out a refrigerator to meet our needs. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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I like the story about the anonymous donor recognising Christopher's need. I too enjoy giving, and like MrsJoe, have been on the receiving end when it was very much needed.
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