Just about everything you purchase, or otherwise use, has an instruction label or book. Even Christians have one: it’s called the bible.
But, as is the case for everything else in life, there needs to be the occasional shortened reminder of some of the components of our faith which may not readily come to mind, which is where Matthew 6:1-4 enters the picture.
In this pericope, Jesus is teaching his disciples how to avoid becoming a status seeker, while at the same time setting a proper example of true Christian humility.
Jesus begins by saying, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for them you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what the right had is knowing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
– Matt. 6 :1-4 (English Standard Version)
It’s really interesting to consider how and why Jesus chose this particular instruction to begin his teaching session. Apparently (and we pretty much know this to be a fact), the desire to be specially acknowledged for acts of even basic decency was at that time, and still remains, the easiest exploitable personal action, and left us most vulnerable to our hedonistic tendencies.
Take at look at how celebrities nowadays put out “advance announcements” declaring their intended donation or action, then arrange for all sorts of media coverage for when the donation is actually made, the a follow-up story a year later to show the whole world the extent to which they’ve gone to help this individual or group…all to show everyone just how magnanimous they are.
It wasn’t a whole lot different back then. The hypocrites…those who wanted the whole people to see how truly magnanimous they were, would blow their horns in order to make a display of it.
But Jesus warned against it by basically saying, just do it and don’t even think twice.
He goes on to warn us not to do any charitable acts to impress people, because whatever acknowledgment of praise you receive will be your ultimate reward; this is what your reward will be because that’s what you were after.
However, Jesus does say that if you are charitable for its sake, and not even thinking twice about it, the acclaim you will receive from our heavenly Father is far greater than that of the people.
In a short time, who you are and what you do will be forgotten for all time IF YOUR GOAL WAS TEMPORAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
If, however, your goal is to quietly emulate God and His loving kindness, who you are and what you do will still be forgotten in this world, but our heavenly Father will hold you in His bosom for all eternity.
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