上帝鉴察我们为祂所做的一切。

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:4

你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。-马太福音6章4节

When Denise met a hurting young woman in her church, her heart went out to her and she decided to see if she could help. Every week she spent time counseling her and praying with her. Denise became her mentor. However, some church leaders didn’t notice Denise’s efforts and decided to assign a church staff member to mentor the woman. No one, they commented, seemed to be taking care of her.

佩芬在教会认识一位心灵受伤的年轻姐妹。佩芬很同情她，便一心想帮助她。佩芬每周都会花些时间辅导她，与她一同祷告，成为她的良师益友。然而，一些教会领袖并未留意佩芬所付出的一切，以为没有人关心这位姐妹，决定派一位教会同工来辅导这位姐妹。

While she was not expecting any credit, Denise couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. “It’s as if I wasn’t doing anything at all,” she told me.

佩芬虽然不曾期望得到任何认可，但这仍让她感到有些沮丧。她对我说：“好像我什么都没做一样。”

One day, however, the young woman told Denise how grateful she was for her comfort. Denise felt encouraged. It was as if God was telling her, “I know you’re there for her.” Denise still meets with the woman regularly.

但后来有一天，这位年轻的姐妹告诉佩芬，她十分感激佩芬带来的安慰。佩芬很受鼓舞，那感觉就像是上帝在对她说：“我知道妳关心她。”直到现在，佩芬仍持续关心这位姐妹。

Sometimes, we feel unappreciated when our efforts don’t get recognized. Scripture, however, reminds us that God knows what we’re doing. He sees what others don’t. And it pleases Him when we serve for His sake—not for man’s praise.

有时，当我们的付出没有得到认同，难免会感到心灰意冷。但圣经提醒我们，上帝知道我们所做的一切，祂能看到人所看不到的。若我们的服事是为了上帝，而不是为了得到人们的称赞，就能讨上帝喜悦。

Perhaps that’s why Jesus gave us an example by telling us to do our giving “in secret,” so that “your Father, who sees what is done . . . will reward you” (Matt. 6:4). We need not look to others for recognition and praise; we can take heart that God knows when we’re faithful in serving Him and others.

或许正因如此，耶稣曾举例告诉我们施舍的事要“行在暗中”，因为“你父在暗中察看，必然报答你”（马太福音6章4节）。我们不需寻求人的认同或称赞，只要上帝知道我们是忠心服事祂和众人，就能让我们得着激励。

Lord, forgive me for the times when I crave others’ recognition and praise. Help me to serve for Your glory alone.

主啊，有时我会渴求旁人的认同与赞扬，
求祢赦免我，并帮助我能单为祢的荣耀而服事。

Matthew 6:1-4New International Version (NIV)

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

整理：于姊妹