In His Name Devotionals
HELPING OTHERS - PUBLICLY OR SECRETLY?
In His Name Devotionals
HELPING OTHERS - PUBLICLY OR SECRETLY?
In Matthew 6:1 the Lord speaks of doing our ‘alms’ to be seen. Of course, we all know that that the Lord is emphasizing ‘for the purpose of being seen.’ Our Lord is not enjoining secrecy in an absolute sense. He also said, “Let your light so shine before men ...” (Matt. 5:16 KJV). By beginning with the word, “Therefore” or “When,” in verse 2, Jesus presents the broad assumption that His true followers give alms—help others. However, as a test of personal motive, secrecy is by far the best way to care for and help those in need.
Consider the contrast of rewards in Matthew 6:1, 2, i.e., eternal reward in heaven vs popular applause or approval on earth. Verse 3 is a heavenly guideline for the faithful follower of Christ, “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” Maintaining the desired privacy is applied specifically to giving alms (helping other people).
“That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:4 KJV). Secrecy in giving personal aid and assistance to one in need is commanded by Christ. It also has easily discernible qualities commending it, such as:
(1) It assures purity of motive in the heart of the giver by removing the temptation of hypocrisy.
(2) It protects and honors the privacy of the recipient, a privacy that is indispensable to recovery and rehabilitation.
(3) It protects the benefactor from a proliferation of calls upon his generosity.
(4) It provides a noble basis for the development of true love and friendship between the helper and the person helped.
(5) It honors this specific commandment of Christ, which to Christians should be the most important of all.
The tragic consequences of failure to observe this principle of secrecy are today clearly visible on a national scale where the ostentatious helping of the poor has degraded millions who, stripped of every dignity, must stand in line, bare the innermost secrets of their souls to ‘case workers,’ finally sinking into a state of permanent and professional poverty and in far too many instances, the complete abandonment of self-esteem, self-reliance, and responsibility. Not even a government can violate Christ’s commandment in this important business of human welfare without sustaining extensive and irreparable damage both to itself and its citizens.
Because Jesus Christ cares for us, we care for others. Because of the help Jesus Christ has given us, we desire to help others. Because Jesus Christ loves us, we desire to love others. But how can we know for sure that our personal help and love for others is sincere, unless our ‘righteousness’ is secretly presented? Are we striving for reward on earth or in heaven? Perhaps the answer lies in the answer to this question, “How did my ‘alms-giving’ (helping others) become publicly known?” Did I publicly mention it? Which ‘reward’ am I truly seeking?
