A few weeks ago, I posted a blog about a wedding gift I’d lost track of before attending the wedding. (July 19, “Keeping Track”) The day before the event, I was sure God would let me bump into it, because he’s famous for his 11^th hour rescues. But I went to the wedding with a check instead of the vase I’d chosen from the bride and groom’s registry, disappointed in myself and in God.

It’s been several weeks since that happy occasion, but I’ve continued to hunt for the gift, hating the fact that my brain wasn’t sharp enough to remember where I’d put it. God knew where it was, since there’s no secret he doesn’t know, but he wouldn’t tell me. And why was I surprised? He’s all about secrets.

Most of the “why’s” behind life’s unanswered questions are secrets known only to him. Of course he’s God Almighty and doesn’t have to answer to anyone, but there’s another reason behind his secret-keeping.

He’s trying to set an example for the rest of us.

Jesus gives three illustrations of when secrecy should trump openness. The first is our gift-giving. God’s recommendation is that we keep it under wraps. To make his point, he tells us we shouldn’t even let our left hand know what our right is doing. In other words, we should make a big effort to give gifts in secret with no one’s knowledge but God’s. He keeps the books and won’t miss seeing what we do.

Jesus’ second teaching on keeping secrets applies to fasting. Although biblical fasting remains mysterious in terms of how God applies it to our lives, he clearly states we’re to look and act nourished while depriving ourselves of food, keeping it a secret whenever possible. God sees, and that should be enough. After all, he’s the one who will respond to it.

The third secrecy-subject is prayer. Although praying out loud in groups is appropriate, the majority of our prayer ought to be done in secret, one-on-one with God. His instructions are, “Get alone. Shut the door. Pray in private.” He’ll hear us perfectly, and we’ll hear him better then, too.

Giving, praying or fasting with the hope of being noticed negates God’s plans for us. He wants to shower us with goodies he calls “rewards”, but he says he’ll hold those back, if our motives aren’t pure.

And he makes no secret of that.

As for the lost wedding gift, I finally gave up searching, and immediately after that, I found it, nestled in the corner of a 2’ x 3’ box I was about to pitch. God waited until I quit making demands of him, and then he showed me.

We’re not privy to most of his secrets, but once in a while he does let us in on one. Woo hoo!

“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us.” (Deuteronomy 29:29)