Don't Do Your Good Deeds Publicly To Be Admired By Others
A Fool And His Money Are Quickly Parted
MATHEW 6:1-4
“”Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
”Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.1-4.NKJ
V
Their are many hypocrites among us, they are the ones who do their good deeds for appearance only, not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may well be good, but their motives are totally wrong or hollow.
Whether giving to help to the needy, or preaching, or serving, their empty acts are the only reward they will ever receive. “Look at me" they say, but God will only reward those who are sincere in their faith and give out of selfless love.
When Jesus says not to tell your left hand what your right hand is doing, He is teaching that our motives for giving to God or others must be pure, not to impress others or even your spouse, but out of love for the Lord and others because you sincerely care.
It's easy to give with mixed motives, to do good for someone if it will benefit us in return.
We believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving out of love and as a response to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
It's easy to do what is right when we gain recognition and praise. But to be totally confident that our motives are right, we should do our good deeds in private, quietly and discreetly, with no thoughts of reward.
Jesus says, we should check our motives in three areas: generosity (6:4), prayer (6:6), and fasting (6:18). Those acts should be totally God-centred, not self-centred, not done to make us look good or to profit in some way, but to glorify God, to make Him look good and lift Him up in honour.
The reward God promises is not necessarily material, and is never given to those who think they can buy God's favour.
Salvation is not because of our good deeds, but rather received by faith in Christ and God's grace. Surely our salvation is the greatest gift all.
Doing something good for others only to get something back in return is not a loving sacrifice.
Would you still do your good deeds if no one knew you did it? The only one who needs to know is our God, and you can be sure that He does, nothing passes Him unnoticed, good or evil, and you can be sure that he will bring justice for your evil deeds and blessings for your good deeds far above anything you can understand, not necessarily in this life, but the next.
Therefore, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
But whatever we give, we must be wise. Giving out of response to our emotions is foolish, and a fool and his money are quickly parted.
Giving must be by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We believers are called to help the needy, not subsidies the lazy. Giving for the wrong reasons may bring poverty upon one’s self, and possibly undermine the Lord’s work in them. But giving for the right reasons, brings glory to our Father in heaven.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
