The Vette Barn - Matthew 6:1-4

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Quote:

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Some of you may understand why I am posting this. I am not overly religious, but the concept of charity was explained to me once by a much more religious person than I, and that lesson has always rang true.

Offending an entire group of people while rationalizing your behavior by saying "we do charitable things" is exactly the POLAR OPPOSITE of actual charity.

Charity emphasizes humility, selflessness, and a genuine desire to serve others without seeking personal recognition.

/rantoff

Patty and I had dinner last night at a local steak house and an elderly vet came to the bar, ordered dinner, including a take home entree. We asked the bar tender to put his tab on our bill and to not share with him at all, but to simply let him know that someone here thanks you for your service.

We each had to order another drink because we wanted to see his exit. He was a slow eater and took his time. He was tickled, as were we. He only drank iced tea, and his bill was minimal. As he left, he was appreciative, and hopefully that made his day.

I try and do this with military peeps as much as I can. :yesnod:

"they have their reward" - yes, they have the approval of men. but not of God.

in those days, they only had coins, so they were commonly kept in a little bag, cloth or leather, closed with a string, and often tied to your belt, so you'd have your hands free.

"don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"

a generous man, upon seeing a need, would reach into his bag of coins, pull out as much as his hand could grasp, and give that sum to the needy. he didn't count it out from one hand to the other to determine the sum given - he didn't let his left hand (the hand he would count into) know what his right hand was doing (grabbing what it could hold).

yes, i'm bothered too by these people that have to let everyone else know that they have donated a certain sum to some cause, and now we all know about it. go do your good works in private.

Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

be far more concerned with how God thinks of you than how man (any man) thinks of you.

you are not alone.