MARK 12:35-44 WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING The scribe who asked about the law understood the difference between the outward forms of a law-keeper and what only God can see. Love, true genuine love from the heart, soul, mind and strength, is hidden from the eyes of humans. We can see evidence of it but not the reality of it. In the silence that followed that conversation, the Lord Jesus asked a final question Himself to enforce the teaching contained in the answers He had given. The quotation from Psalm 110:1 was given so those religious leaders would know the Christ was more than a descendant of David. He was God in human form. This delighted the common people in the multitude. Christ would be one of them. Only God knows who among them truly believed Jesus was the Christ of God. Every true believer will confess with the mouth audibly the fact that Jesus is his or her Lord, and believes with the heart that the One who died for our sins, lives forevermore. Jesus Christ is Lord!
Sometimes we see people dressed in a certain way that goes beyond modesty, dignity and respectability. With a near-sad countenance and showy spirituality, their flowing robes or some distinctive type of apparel is to make them noticed or honored. There is a certain awe they expect people to show toward them and the impression they hope to create is they are of a higher stature and greater importance than those around them. It is true we are to "give honor" to those to whom honor is due. That is because of the position they hold in society, a group or a family. When it comes to prayer, fasting, claiming of priority and financial giving, only God knows the heart. Our actions should be consistent with what we believe. More than that, the Lord said we are to beware of those who exalt themselves. God is determined to put the proud person down, and is determined to lift the humble person up.
Illustrating this principle, the Holy Spirit put into the pages of scripture an incident that took place at that time when Jesus was in the temple. Jesus saw what no one else saw when a poor widow gave all she had in an act of worship and honest appreciation. Only God knew what she had, and only God knew she gave it all to Him. The amount she gave wasn't what gave value to the act. It was that she gave from her heart, soul, mind and strength - she gave it all!
We can learn from this that the Lord is observing our motives. There is nothing of the "thoughts and intents of the heart" that He does not know. The poor widow woman probably never knew she was being watched by the Lord until after she died. God's watchful observation is unobserved by men. He knows when we have done something for Him that is from the heart. He knows how much we have withheld that we could have or should have given. He knows the degree of appreciation each gift I make has. When a person gives "all that she had," there is true value there. The Lord appraises our giving and knows when it is spiritual, grateful, thoughtful and "hilarious" giving. The quality of this woman's giving is she gave her life - "all that she had." Her giving is a true sacrament. It was a symbol of a full heart and true faith. She had nothing left so her trust was completely in God when it came to her own need.
Much in our lives we will never be able to remember. Very little that has been done will we recall, even things done recently. But there is One who appraises every action, every motive, every thought and intent of my heart. Those things done for God when no one is looking are the things of value in our lives. The life of faith is not one in which we calculate everything in percentages or what I might get out of it. What may be important one time may be valueless another time. The omniscient God knows what is behind every gift, every prayer, every action taken. When no one else sees, we need to remember - "Thou God, seest me!"
Not everything done in the open can be evaluated by man. No one can estimate the worth of an action, really - only God can. He looks upon the heart of each person, we only see the outside. Whatever is done, He knows it all, and the motive we cannot hide.
Some things may seem insignificant, to us they seem so small. Whether they be little or big, the all-knowing God evaluates them all. He is not doing that just to plan out some future reward, But the motive behind an action should be appreciation for the Lord.
Some things we want to be seen, but not that praise will be given. A true motive may be that others may believe and bless the God of heaven For meeting their need through your gift and know you gave it as to the Lord. It was a sacrifice of material goods given with no thought of reward.
Other things are done very privately like alms-giving, prayer and fasting. The reason for secrecy is this is for God alone, not to be seen by those who are passing. God knows the heart and what is done out of appreciation for Him alone, Is a spiritual service that is gladly given, not by others to be known.
I really don't want the deep things that are just between God and me, To be put out in the open where everyone else is able to see - And make comparisons as to how much something is worth. The purpose behind what is done for the Lord is His honor by an act of faith.
I'll try to keep my right hand from knowing what the left is doing, And when people wonder at what I do, where I've been or where I am going - I'll just leave the explanations to the Spirit of God who guides. He knows what needs to be made public and what is best to hide.
"Father, I praise Thee today for making plain to me the value of privacy in the things of God. It would be a serious mistake to advertise what should be for Thy eyes only. Please keep me from wanting the praise of men. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."