Week 26
Matthew 10:42 “Whoever…gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
God measures things differently than people do. We recall God’s words to Samuel as he sought to crown a new king among the sons of Jesse. God said, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).” Jesus celebrated the small gift of the widow in the temple offering, and it was a young boy’s lunch that God used to feed a multitude. With God, small things can be (and often are) big things. We remember the words of the Lord given through the prophet, Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).” The Lord goes on to say that His thoughts and ways “are higher as the heavens are above the earth (Isaiah 55:9).” This is a truism of life that can be applied in every aspect of thought and living.
Therefore, it is not surprising that we read in these words of Jesus a reference to rewarding one who gives a cup of cold water to “one of these little ones.” Smallness is the key to this text: a small gift (cup of cold water) to a small person (a little one). God honors what people often disdain. The measure of the value of a good deed is not determined by people, but by God who sees the heart.
With this assertion, Jesus expands the horizons of loving service in the name of Christianity. Sometimes great things can be and should be, done for Christ. But Jesus says that even small things done for Christ and for love are noticed and rewarded by God. Thus, Jesus pulls down to the bottom shelf of life the opportunity for every single person; we can all do something that is significant for the Lord in our lives, no matter how small it may appear in someone else’s eyes.
Heaven will resound with praise for the millions of small deeds done throughout history for love, deeds overlooked by others, but recorded in glory to the praise of God. Let us take our “cups”, no matter how small they look to us, and let us fill them with “cold water” to give a caring and kind “drink” to a thirsty life traveler. We might find that in so doing we are powerful servants of the Lord giving in a timely manner a propitious and inspiring gift that will uplift and even transform someone’s life. And let us remember that our reward will come from the Lord; Earth has no reward for us. Our reward will be in glory, and what a wonderful reward this will be!
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to fill my “cup” with “cold water” and look for ways to help a thirsty traveler. Take my meager resources and talents and use them as Your instruments of love and help. Thank You for using my life for Your glory and for the good of others. Amen.