Human Validity

How often do we do things just so other people can see them. We think that if we do good things and other people see what we are doing, then they'll think we are a good person.

This is something that is difficult because it's okay to share and show the work that God is doing in your life. It really is.

There is a fine line between that and doing good things strictly so that others can see it.

For me, since day one, I really don't care how many people read these posts I write. I believe that one person will be encouraged by each post and that is enough for me. God has called me to do this and I know that this is what He wants me to do, so I am totally fine if nobody every reads anything that I write. I know I just said it, but I fully believe that one person is encouraged from each post and that is enough. Whether it's one person, twenty, or a hundred, I won't stop doing this.

To be honest, I don't know if a person is affected every time and that is okay, because in my heart I know that someone is...every time.

I was reminded by a well-known author over the summer to keep that mindset as long as I write and encourage. It could be easy to get caught up in how many views each post gets. I am not going to lie to you, I feel like I am being tested in that area right now. Each post since last week has at least a hundred less views than any other post. I believe I am being tested. Maybe my link isn't posting or I don't know what it is. I will never stop though. Writing a blog has never been about myself, it's about the people who read it and mostly importantly serving God.  It's for you. I never thought I would write anything like this and God has given me the ability to write and encourage and I am going to give everything I have in order to do that. God is awesome and I want you to know that. God does too many amazing things to keep it a secret. I learn too much from reading the bible and I want to share the power that comes from being in the word.

I do what I do for God. I don't do anything to make myself look good. I don't need human validation and neither do you.

It's easy to believe that we have to do good things in order to get to heaven. That's not the case. We have to believe in your heart that Jesus died for our sins and confess with our mouth and that is how you get to heaven.

What sparked this whole post was what I read in Matthew chapter 6. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus is preaching some pretty powerful lessons about very important topics.

One of the things he preaches about giving to the needy.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." (Matthew 6:1-2)

When we give and when we serve we don't need to make a big deal about it just to get recognition. I love when Jesus says: "Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." When we do things, like give to the needy or serve the needy, God knows that. God knowing that is the reward. Think about that. Who cares about human validation...the most important thing is God's validation.

Jesus also talks about the Lord's prayer in Matthew chapter 6. He says that we don't need to pray on the street corners so that everyone can see. We don't have to be seen when we pray. Our prayers are between us and God. Again Jesus says: "Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." Then Jesus instructs us when we pray to go into your room and shut the door and pray to our Father who is in secret. And that our Father who sees in secret, will reward you. That should be the only validation we need right there. 

Jesus address fasting as well in this chapter. 

"And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward." (Matthew 6:16)

There were people who would fast just so that others could see them fasting. They wanted to look good in front of other people. They were seeking human validation, not God's. Again, Jesus says: "Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." 

I hope this post encouraged you to remember that God's validation is what most important. When we do good things, or practice our faith, we should never do it just to look good in the eyes of others. We should never have that motive. God knows all of our thoughts, actions, and our hearts. He created them!! He knows us and he loves us and when it comes down to it, that is what matters most and that is what we need to understand.