“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, 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 men. I tell you the truth, 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.”   Matthew 6:1-4 (NIV)

I worked for many years in the field of corporate public relations. As part of my job I organized corporate sponsorships and oversaw corporate donations. The goal of both was the same: for our company to receive as much public recognition as possible for our money. This recognition came in many forms: advertising in event programs and advertising; our company logo emblazoned on athlete clothing and equipment; or public expressions of thanks.

But God’s view is radically different. He wants us to do good with no fanfare at all. He wants us to drop our addiction to doing good and getting credit for it. Consider the story of the prodigal son. Shouldn’t it really be titled: “The Forgiving Father?” Shouldn’t the dad get the credit for forgiving his son and throwing him a big party? But no, God places the focus on the prodigal son: the sinner in need of forgiveness. God wants us to identify with the sinner, not applaud the father. He wants us to recognize the prodigal son in each of us. Next time you write a cheque for charity, visit a friend in hospital or volunteer at church, do so quietly. God sees what you do and you will receive a far greater reward than earthly accolades.

D. Lim