Fantastic Friday #417 - Perform

Perform

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver....¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 2 Corinthians 6-7, 12-13

When you perform certain actions throughout the day, do you feel like someone is watching you or judging you? Depending on what you are performing, someone might be keeping an eye on you.  Maybe this is because they know you are a follower of Christ and they just want to see how you act.  I think many of us today think so much about how we are going to perform in front of others and what these other people are going to think,  we end up over-performing or trying too hard to be good.  The thing we tend to forget about is our performance should really come from the outflow of our heart and not about pleasing others.  This is where many people have it wrong these days, they might be a cheerful giver, but they want to make sure everyone notices what they give, whether it be time or money.  Someone might also have a heart of giving, but then they want to make sure they are acknowledged for all the effort they put in.  We all want to be appreciated as human beings, but we need to get to the point where whatever we perform, we do it humbly and without asking for anything in return including acknowledgement from others.  Remember, there is one that is watching you closely. While you might be giving on the outside, He can see where you want to be acknowledged or rewarded.  Why not let God acknowledge your performance and not worry about what other people think, he knows your heart and can see through the performance. 

Have a great weekend