John 5:12-13 (NIVUK)
12 So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
Sometimes a phrase catches the attention and embeds itself. For me, ‘be generous in obscurity’ was one of these. It was in a talk at Soul Survivor probably 15 years or so ago. The idea was simple, it is very easy to be kind to others when we expect to get something back in return, even a simple thank you which makes us feel good. The challenge was, can we develop the habit of being generous to others even if we didn’t expect to get anything back? If we practiced doing good in secret, the idea went, perhaps we would become more consistent in doing good regardless of what we might or might not receive in return. Jesus demonstrates that here. He heals the man, but doesn’t make a song and dance about it; he doesn’t even make sure the man knows who did it so he can tell others that it was him. This is love for love’s sake.
Jesus, thank you that you gave yourself for me, even though I am incapable of ever repaying the debt, or truly comprehending what you have done. Teach me to love for love’s sake.
Image used with permission by John Paul Stanley
Leave a Reply