Public Praise or Quiet Service?

Late one night, I received a phone call. On the other end was a voice telling me someone at church had died.

I went. As I walked in, the body lay in the bedroom. The atmosphere was humid with tears and wringing with pain.

I went not because it was pleasant, and I did not go because someone would notice.

I went because someone was hurting.

Society has an itch that gets scratched through publicity.

The photo posted on Facebook. How many likes did it receive?

The video reel on Instagram. Did it go viral?

Yet, the small tasks done anonymously never get seen.

Which do you choose? Public praise or quiet service?

Solomon observed many things in life. One was:

“The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.” (Ecclesiastes 7:4, ESV)

In short, he says, a fool needs an audience; the wise need only the person in front of him.

Jesus saw it too. In Mark 12, he watched as contributors dropped silver and gold coins in the trumpet-shaped collection urn. Their ring was as pure as the metal.

And it drew attention, with the accompanying notice of the importance of the wealthy giver.

Then, there was a clink, the sound of a worthless copper coin. Few saw who but Jesus did.

A poor widow had given those two coins, and Jesus commented:

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43–44, ESV)

As someone who writes and has a video posted daily, I understand the siren’s song. It is easier to check for reactions than to focus on helping people.

It is a daily struggle. Am I doing it for my ego boost or for others’ encouragement?

In fifty years of ministry, I’ve watched something shift. It is not like an earthquake that jars. It is more like a foundation that settles until the house cracks.

The change is a change of emphasis.

Once ministry focused on the “care of souls.” Preachers preached, but also strode down hospital corridors. They were at the side of the dying and holding the sobbing who did not know where to turn.

Today, modern ministry loves standing in the spotlight. Brilliant presentations garner accolades and applause. The unpleasant and unnoticed fall by the wayside.

But Solomon already named the two seats: the spotlight is the fool’s seat; the hospital corridor is the wise one.

Too many times, life tempts us to choose based on notice. We parade good deeds on Facebook so they can gather likes.

But it is more noble, or as Solomon would say, more wise, to go unnoticed. Jesus says that what is unseen by man is seen by God.

So look at your choices. Take the hospital visit and don’t report it. Sit at a funeral home even though no one knows.

The best spotlight is God’s. So stand in it.