Recently, I was busy studying the bible at night, and suddenly, an unwelcome thought entered my mind.

“Look at me! I’m so hardworking, so serious about His Word. It’s unfortunate not many people are like me.”

It wasn’t in those exact words, but that was the temperament.

Then I stood up, and went outside my room to fetch a drink, and shame crept into my mind.

And I thought to myself, “Why would God reward you for something that edifies only you?”

I remembered that God said through Paul that the gift of tongues was the least of all the gifts, precisely because it edified only the believer himself.

I fetched the drink from the fridge, went back to my seat in my room, and repented inwardly of my pride.

But a few days later, I learnt something new.

I revisited a study of Matthew, and came across this portion of Scripture:

Matthew 6:17-18 (New International Version)

¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

You see, we believers fast because it helps our spiritual growth.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline, much like bible study is.

It is a way to walk in the Spirit, and therefore grow spiritually.

However, I read here that God said that He rewards us for fasting in secret.

That struck a chord with me, because it meant that God likely also rewards us for other spiritual disciplines, like bible study.

Why would God reward us for something that edifies only ourselves?

I believe the very fact that He does this reveals His heart for us.

He loves us, and is willing to reward even the acts that do not really warrant a reward.

Elsewhere in the bible, we see this:

Matthew 10:42 (New International Version)

⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

A cup of cold water.

Giving that is an act that God promised to reward, and in no case will we lose this reward.

Now, let us consider a cup of cold water.

You see a starving beggar, and you decide to help him.

And you give him a cup of cold water?

I don’t know about you, but that comes across to me as a charitable deed done half-heartedly.

The cup of water should have been warm, and it would be of more comfort to the beggar who was probably too poor to afford a cloak.

What I learnt from this verse is that God rewards even the least of our good acts.

The good acts we do without much thought, with half our hearts involved in it.

Coupled with the verse about God rewarding us for participating in spiritual disciplines that help only ourselves, I come to know one thing –

God’s heart for us.

God is not someone who is looking down from His throne in Heaven, shaking his head in disappointment.

“I wish my daughter just put more effort into that.”

“This son is always failing somehow, whether in church attendance or spending time in the Word.”

No, God does not have that heart.

His heart is:

“You gave two coins, but they were all you had. I am pleased.”

We have a loving God who is always eager to reward us, not a God who is constantly nitpicking on every flaw we have.

Take heart, my friend.

For we have a merciful God.

Psalm 103:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
    he remembers that we are dust.