A few nights ago our dog barked all night. The next morning we discovered that she had drug a possum up to the house which explained the barking. Before that it was a dead raccoon, a mouse, and multiple turtles. Oh! And let’s not forget one of our chickens. She is so proud of herself every time despite the fact that I would prefer that she hide the bodies and leave the chickens alone! But what she wants is a pat on the head & a scratch on the belly because she has performed a great deed by protecting us from those vicious critters. But isn’t that what we do? We do some insignificant thing that we consider a great deed, spread it out before us, and wait for someone to pat us on the head for it. I know I have. And what’s sad is, I’ve even done it with God. Here’s the thing. We aren’t doing God a favor. No amount of good deeds can earn us God’s approval. I would imagine that He has probably had the same reaction to some of my “triumphs” as I have had to my dog’s. He probably would have been happier if I had simply guarded my testimony rather than barking about it and expecting for a pat on the head.
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV
By The Thread 