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Secret Goodness | Lesson 6 | November 5, 2016

Covert Operations

Sabbath Afternoon | Today’s Reading

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 80

“‘When thou doest alms,’ He said, ‘let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
Himself shall reward thee openly.’
“In these words Jesus did not teach that acts of kindness should always be kept
secret. Paul the apostle, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal the generous
self-sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians, but told of the grace that Christ had
wrought in them, and thus others were imbued with the same spirit. He also
wrote to the church at Corinth and said, ‘Your zeal hath stirred up very many.’
2 Corinthians 9:2, R.V.
“Christ’s own words make His meaning plain, that in acts of charity the aim
should not be to secure praise and honor from men. Real godliness never
prompts an effort at display. Those who desire words of praise and flattery, and
feed upon them as a sweet morsel, are Christians in name only.
“By their good works, Christ’s followers are to bring glory, not to themselves, but
to Him through whose grace and power they have wrought. It is through the Holy
Spirit that every good work is accomplished, and the Spirit is given to glorify, not
the receiver, but the Giver. When the light of Christ is shining in the soul, the lips
will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to God.”

Matthew 6:1-4 (Contemporary English Version)

“When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a
reward from your Father in heaven.
“When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in
the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking
for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.
“When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. Then your gift will be
given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward
you.”

COVERT OPERATIONS

Once upon a time there lived an artist named Herkomer, who was born in the
Black Forest in Europe. While Herkomer was a gifted artist, his father was only a
simple woodchopper. As Herkomer’s fame spread, he moved to London and
continued to work. And he soon sent for his father to join him. His father was so
proud of the gifted artist his son had become. Jokingly he would often attribute
his son’s success to a genetic trait.

The old man would try to make artifacts out of clay, and while they were often
quite good, they were not the quality of his son’s work. Still, the father and son
worked together and made a good living as artisans in the London area. As time
went on, the old man’s abilities decreased, and the quality of his work
diminished. Sometimes it was clear on his face how disappointed he was in
himself and in the quality of his work.
Herkomer felt sad about his aged father’s condition and would often notice the
flaws in his handiwork and want to do something to help him. So when his father
would go upstairs to bed, Herkomer would stay up late and begin his covert
operations. He would shape and fashion the artifacts that had defects until they
were perfect. He would then smile as he retired, knowing that the next day his
father would hear the people remark about the quality of his work. And when
people did comment, the unsuspecting old man would beam with a sense of
value. Herkomer knew that his father’s dignity and pride were all that he had in
his old age, and he wouldn’t allow those to be taken away.

1. Why was it important for Herkomer to keep secret what he was doing?
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2. How was what Herkomer did at night “doing kindness”? Explain.

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3. Would Jesus do that for you? Explain.

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Sunday | Today’s Reading

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 81

“We are to give in sincerity, not to make a show of our good deeds, but from pity
and love to the suffering ones. Sincerity of purpose, real kindness of heart, is the
motive that Heaven values. The soul that is sincere in its love, wholehearted in its
devotion, God regards as more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir.

“We are not to think of reward, but of service; yet kindness shown in this spirit will
not fail of its recompense. ‘Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward
thee openly.’ While it is true that God Himself is the great Reward, that embraces
every other, the soul receives and enjoys Him only as it becomes assimilated to
Him in character. Only like can appreciate like. It is as we give ourselves to God for
the service of humanity that He gives Himself to us.
“No one can give place in his own heart and life for the stream of God’s blessing to
flow to others, without receiving in himself a rich reward. The hillsides and plains
that furnish a channel for the mountain streams to reach the sea suffer no loss
thereby. That which they give is repaid a hundredfold. For the stream that goes
singing on its way leaves behind its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass on its
banks is a fresher green, the trees have a richer verdure, the flowers are more
abundant.”

James 2:14-17 (New International Version)

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can
such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does
nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Romans 12:9-13 (New International Version)

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one
another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice
hospitality.”

HERE’S WHAT I THINK

Brenda secretly made a plate of cookies for a man who lived on her street. He
seemed old and lonely; she thought that knowing someone cared might cheer him
up. She left the plate on his doorstep with a note of encouragement and left
quietly. The next day, she received a small loaf of freshly baked bread on her porch
with a note. She thought, He must have seen me leave the cookies, and now he
 knows it was me. Then she read the bottom of the note, which said, “P.S. I saw
how kind you were to that man and just wanted you to know that it made an
impact on me. But I’m not telling you who I am either.” The secrecy continued
around the neighborhood.
Which is more important, the secrecy or the act of kindness? Which part of the
experience has an impact on the giver? Which has an impact on the receiver? What
is the kindest thing someone has done for you as a secret? How did it make you
feel not knowing who it was?
Go to http://guidemagazine.org/rtf to post your answers. Your thoughts and
feelings may seem clearer to you when you write them down, so we’ve provided
space for you here as well. You may also wish to share them with your class later.
Be up-front and honest.
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Monday | Today’s Reading

Read Psalm 139:1-3 in different versions of the Bible (go to

Biblegateway.com) and write down your favorite.

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Tuesday | Today’s Reading

Luke 10:25-37 (The Message)

“Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. ‘Teacher, what
do I need to do to get eternal life?’
“He answered, ‘What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?’
“He said, ‘That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and
muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do
yourself.’
“‘Good answer!’ said Jesus. ‘Do it and you’ll live.’
“Looking for a loophole, he asked, ‘And just how would you define “neighbor”?’
“Jesus answered by telling a story. ‘There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem
to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him
up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the
same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite
religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
“‘A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition,
his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his
wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him
comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the
innkeeper, saying, “Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—
I’ll pay you on my way back.”
“‘What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by
robbers?’

“‘The one who treated him kindly,’ the religion scholar responded.
“Jesus said, ‘Go and do the same.’”

The Desire of Ages, pp. 504, 505

“Christ has linked His interest with that of humanity, and He asks us to become one
with Him for the saving of humanity. ‘Freely ye have received,’ He says, ‘freely
give.’ Matthew 10:8. Sin is the greatest of all evils, and it is ours to pity and help
the sinner. There are many who err, and who feel their shame and their folly. They
are hungry for words of encouragement. They look upon their mistakes and errors,
until they are driven almost to desperation. These souls we are not to neglect. If we
are Christians, we shall not pass by on the other side, keeping as far as possible
from the very ones who most need our help. When we see human beings in
distress, whether through affliction or through sin, we shall never say, This does
not concern me.

“‘Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.’ Galatians
6:1. By faith and prayer press back the power of the enemy. Speak words of faith
and courage that will be as a healing balsam to the bruised and wounded one.
Many, many, have fainted and become discouraged in the great struggle of life,
when one word of kindly cheer would have strengthened them to overcome. Never
should we pass by one suffering soul without seeking to impart to him of the
comfort wherewith we are comforted of God.”

SO WHAT?

Treating others with kindness, with no strings attached—God does this all the time.
And He wants us to respond to others the same way, not simply for some special
outcome we hope for, but because it’s the way of His kingdom. It’s the way He
works. And the more God gets into people, the more people get into the lifestyle of
the King.
You have a couple of options; join the crowd and be preoccupied with how
everything affects you, or give secret kindness a chance to shape the way you live
every week. Make no mistake—it is not easy to live this way. You will need to focus
and follow through. Most good intentions are still waiting to become actions. But
the whole idea is exercise, spiritual discipline.
Those who want to run the marathon have to train. Training in the spiritual life is
not much different. Look out for and be wary of the signs that say “Spiritual growth
in a few easy steps.” It’s a lie! In many closets are dozens of exercise gimmicks
and tricks that offered to make life change easy. God never claims that this
disciplined kingdom way of life is easy. But He promises, on His honor, that it is
full. He guarantees that your life will be exciting. But, it does take exercise. So take
the tiny steps today to follow through on an act of secret goodness, and see for
yourself how much it costs and how much it is worth to you. You will be back for
more

1. We are all very busy. Busy with school and work and life. Why would God
ask us to sometimes go out of our way to be kind to others when He knows
that we are so very busy?
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2. What does kindness have to do with heaven and what God wants for our
 lives? Is being kind always an easy thing to do?
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3. Should all of us strive to be kind and make a plan to do so? Explain.

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Wednesday | Today’s Reading

Look up the following texts and fill in the blanks. When you have finished
this activity choose a text that you like and memorize it. Please share it
with your class later.

1. Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV): “‘I the Lord ____________ the heart and

__________ the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according

to what his ___________ deserve.’”

2. Proverbs 21:14 (TLB): “An ________ man is silenced by _________ him a

____________!”

3. Colossians 3:23, 24 (CEV): “Do your work ___________, as though you

were serving the _______________himself, and not your earthly

___________. In fact, the Lord Christ is the __________ you are really

serving, and you ______ that he will ________ you.”

 4. Acts 2:44, 45 (NIV): “All the believers were ___________ and had

everything in common. Selling their __________ and _____________, they

gave to anyone as _____ had need.”

Thursday | Today’s Reading

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 82, 83

“The work of beneficence is twice blessed. While he that gives to the needy blesses
others, he himself is blessed in a still greater degree. The grace of Christ in the soul
is developing traits of character that are the opposite of selfishness,—traits that will
refine, ennoble, and enrich the life. Acts of kindness performed in secret will bind
hearts together, and will draw them closer to the heart of Him from whom every
generous impulse springs. The little attentions, the small acts of love and self-
sacrifice, that flow out from the life as quietly as the fragrance from a flower—these
constitute no small share of the blessings and happiness of life. And it will be found
at last that the denial of self for the good and happiness of others, however humble
and uncommended here, is recognized in heaven as the token of our union with
Him, the King of glory, who was rich, yet for our sake became poor.
“The deeds of kindness may have been done in secret, but the result upon the
character of the doer cannot be hidden. If we work with wholehearted interest as a
follower of Christ, the heart will be in close sympathy with God, and the Spirit of
God, moving upon our spirit, will call forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in
answer to the divine touch.”

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ME?

God has many gifts to give you—love of family members, success, even a few
moments of sadness to remind you of a better world coming. When we give gifts of
unselfish service to others, we get a “sneak peek” into how God must feel when He
gives to us. Selflessness is God’s outstanding characteristic, and it draws others to
Christ. But how can anyone get a glimpse of God’s selflessness other than through
us, His children? Think about it.
Actually, most people have already thought about it. Go beyond thinking about it.
Try it.

1. Name some of the gifts God has given you.

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2. What are some ways you could show kindness to others? (What’s your
plan?)
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3. When you’re trying to show kindness to someone, what is most important to

remember, to keep it a secret, or just do good for someone? Explain.
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4. Why is it suggested that we “do good” in secret?

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Friday | Today’s Reading

Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 80-83

“Jesus rebuked their ostentation, declaring that God does not recognize such
service and that the flattery and admiration of the people, which they so eagerly
sought, was the only reward they would ever receive.
“‘When thou doest alms,’ He said, ‘let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
Himself shall reward thee openly.’
“In these words Jesus did not teach that acts of kindness should always be kept
secret. Paul the apostle, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal the generous
self-sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians, but told of the grace that Christ had
wrought in them, and thus others were imbued with the same spirit. He also wrote
to the church at Corinth and said, ‘Your zeal hath stirred up very many.’
2 Corinthians 9:2, R.V.
“Christ’s own words make His meaning plain, that in acts of charity the aim should
not be to secure praise and honor from men. Real godliness never prompts an
effort at display. Those who desire words of praise and flattery, and feed upon
them as a sweet morsel, are Christians in name only.
“By their good works, Christ’s followers are to bring glory, not to themselves, but to
Him through whose grace and power they have wrought. It is through the Holy
Spirit that every good work is accomplished, and the Spirit is given to glorify, not
the receiver, but the Giver. When the light of Christ is shining in the soul, the lips
will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to God. Your prayers, your performance
of duty, your benevolence, your self-denial, will not be the theme of your thought
or conversation. Jesus will be magnified, self will be hidden, and Christ will appear
as all in all.
“We are to give in sincerity, not to make a show of our good deeds, but from pity
and love to the suffering ones. Sincerity of purpose, real kindness of heart, is the
motive that Heaven values. The soul that is sincere in its love, wholehearted in its
devotion, God regards as more precious than the golden wedge of Ophir.
“We are not to think of reward, but of service; yet kindness shown in this spirit will
not fail of its recompense. ‘Thy Father which seeth in secret Himself shall reward
thee openly.’ While it is true that God Himself is the great Reward, that embraces
every other, the soul receives and enjoys Him only as it becomes assimilated to
Him in character. Only like can appreciate like. It is as we give ourselves to God for
the service of humanity that He gives Himself to us.
“No one can give place in his own heart and life for the stream of God’s blessing to
flow to others, without receiving in himself a rich reward. The hillsides and plains
that furnish a channel for the mountain streams to reach the sea suffer no loss
thereby. That which they give is repaid a hundredfold. For the stream that goes
singing on its way leaves behind its gift of verdure and fruitfulness. The grass on its
banks is a fresher green, the trees have a richer verdure, the flowers are more
abundant. When the earth lies bare and brown under the summer’s parching heat,
a line of verdure marks the river’s course; and the plain that opened her bosom to
bear the mountain’s treasure to the sea is clothed with freshness and beauty, a
witness to the recompense that God’s grace imparts to all who give themselves as
a channel for its outflow to the world.
“This is the blessing of those who show mercy to the poor. The prophet Isaiah says,
‘Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast
out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou
hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the
morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily. . . . And the Lord shall guide
thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought: . . . and thou shalt be like a
watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.’ Isaiah 58:7-11.

“The work of beneficence is twice blessed. While he that gives to the needy blesses
others, he himself is blessed in a still greater degree. The grace of Christ in the soul
is developing traits of character that are the opposite of selfishness,—traits that will
refine, ennoble, and enrich the life. Acts of kindness performed in secret will bind
hearts together, and will draw them closer to the heart of Him from whom every
generous impulse springs. The little attentions, the small acts of love and self-
sacrifice, that flow out from the life as quietly as the fragrance from a flower—these
constitute no small share of the blessings and happiness of life. And it will be found
at last that the denial of self for the good and happiness of others, however humble
and uncommended here, is recognized in heaven as the token of our union with
Him, the King of glory, who was rich, yet for our sake became poor.
“The deeds of kindness may have been done in secret, but the result upon the
character of the doer cannot be hidden. If we work with wholehearted interest as a
follower of Christ, the heart will be in close sympathy with God, and the Spirit of
God, moving upon our spirit, will call forth the sacred harmonies of the soul in
answer to the divine touch.
“He who gives increased talents to those who have made a wise improvement of
the gifts entrusted to them is pleased to acknowledge the service of His believing
people in the Beloved, through whose grace and strength they have wrought. Those
who have sought for the development and perfection of Christian character by
exercising their faculties in good works, will, in the world to come, reap that which
they have sown. The work begun upon earth will reach its consummation in that
higher and holier life to endure throughout eternity.”

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The work of secret goodness is up to you. The whole experience is a serious

spiritual muscle builder. It is essential to thoughtfully plan acts of kindness this
week. Start with one or two that are manageable. It is also extremely important to
be open to spontaneous opportunities that spring up around you throughout the
week.
The checkpoints for planned kindness are the same ones to use for more
spontaneous acts of kindness. You may want to plan out a grace-giving moment
this week and also be open for one that just pops up.
Below is a series of questions to help you. Reflect and write out your experiences
this week, and feel free to share them in the online forum at
http://guidemagazine.org/rtf.

Think about this:

Who is someone who has a need?

What can you do to give grace away with no strings attached?

How can you eliminate being recognized as the source of help?

Planned Responses

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Spontaneous Responses

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Scripture quotations identified CEV are from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright  American
Bible Society 1991, 1995. Used by permission.
Texts credited to Message are from The Message. Copyright  1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001,
2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright  1973, 1978, 1984,
2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers,
Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission.