The Honour of the Unseen

“so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬

We live in a generation where everything is known, shared and reposted. It seems as though nothing is private anymore. Social media has been warped into a space of comparison, judgement and unrealistic, un-owed demands of personal information or insight. It’s hard now to feel as though anything you do, should not or cannot be displayed online. It feels like we should constantly be seen to be doing something.  There’s a saying which used to float around; “show pictures or it didn’t happen”

And I think sometimes that seeps into our experience and expectations of our service unto God.

In an age of Christian influencers, Tiktok and Reel preachers, book writers, newsletter senders, and any other public ministry (the irony is not lost on me since I do actually do many of the things on the list I just shared), we as a people have become uncomfortable with unpublicised local church service, obscure outreaches, secret place intercession and neighbourhood evangelism. We are so used to posting online, that these honourable, globally ‘unseen’ acts of service unto God get overlooked and undervalued.

But the truth is, not all of us are called to public ministry. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Ephesians 4, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 all speak about the different ministries or gifts that the Lord has given to us. Some are called to be pastors, some evangelists, some with the gift of hospitality, some with a great burden for intercession, some to preach etc. But not all of these gifts are for mass public consumption. Not everyone has been called to the pulpit, some are called to the pews and to the homes.

Sitting alongside and encouraging someone as they go through a difficult time is ministry. Looking after your children at home is ministry. Visiting a care home, or helping carry someone’s shopping to their front door is as much ministry as preaching on the pulpit, or having 10,000 followers on any social media platform.

There is such an honour in ‘hidden’ ministry. Because whilst it may be hidden from the eyes of man, nothing is hidden from the eyes of God. Nothing is unknown to Him - and He who sees in secret, will reward.

Our service is onto God and not onto man. Man is only an avenue in which we serve God. At the end of the day, true service is to an audience of One.

I often think about the writer of Hebrews. I think about them sitting in a room by themself, worshiping, praying and writing down the spiritual mysteries for us to read and know God throughout the ages. I imagine them pouring out everything in their spiritual worship unto God…

..and yet, regardless of any speculation, we will never actually know who they were.

Maybe God told them not to, or maybe they decided themselves,  but they never signed their name.

And they have received a reward beyond what we can ever imagine, because their service and impact is marked by their obedience and diligence, not their notoriety. Their reward is not more or less than that of Paul the Apostle or any other person who made the lineage of the known.

I say all this to say; be encouraged that the Lord sees you. The God who sees, El Roi, has seen every single thing you have done in honour of Him. He has seen every kind service, every helping hand, every toilet you have cleaned, every nappy you have changed. He has seen every encouraging word you have spoken, and every hand you have held.

He has seen it, and He is pleased.

Your service does not need to be ‘loud’ to be valuable. Your secret service is equally as important as someone else’s public.

God bless you richly.

You are necessary, you are appreciated, you are honoured.

Continue to do good, continue to serve the Lord in whichever capacity and in whatever garden He has placed you in to tender.

​​“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” - ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬