Praying, Fasting, and giving to the Needy

[Lily Miller]

Matthew 6:1-7
Matthew 6:16-18


Giving to the Needy
“1 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. 2 “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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.


Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

What does this mean to all of you?

Are we supposed to do all of these things in secret? Is it wrong if we do these things publicly??

haha, asking for a friend.

Peace and Blessings, Lily

 

[Dovegiven]

Matthew 6:1-7
Matthew 6:16-18


Giving to the Needy
“1 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. 2 “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. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.


Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

What does this mean to all of you?

Are we supposed to do all of these things in secret? Is it wrong if we do these things publicly??

haha, asking for a friend.

Peace and Blessings, Lily

Interesting issue. Well, when Paul bragged on certain churches concerning their selfless offerings, did they lose their blessing? I don't think so.
It's good to generate energy in one's congregation by noting the benevolent accomplishments of members, especially groups. That sometimes encourages others to participate, getting in on blessings.

Losing a heavenly blessing is assured when proclaiming one's generosity among the receivers. of help. They already know when they are blessed. But if the blessor heaps a record of their works upon the blessed, the blessor receives the end of his/her blessing from the blessed instead of God. So the one blessing is better blessed by telling the blessed "The Lord provides" in true honesty.

 

[Dave M]

it means we are not to do these things to be seen by others, but it does not mean we can not be seen by others. Its all about the attitude we are doing these things, the pharisees did them to be "seen"so they looked holy not because they were holy. If you do them from the good of your heart and are seen I see no problem with it. It sounds to me more like warning on WHY we are doing these things. And certainly can not go wrong doing them in secret.

But when we look at all scripture we see the apostles praying over people to be healed that is not in secret. We see the widow giving her last to bits, that is not in secret.

 

[Lily Miller]

it means we are not to do these things to bee seen by others, but it does not mean we can not be seen by others. Its all about the attitude we are doing these things, the pharasies did them to bee "seen"so they looked holly not because they were holly. If you do them from the good of your heart and are seen I see no problem with it. It sounds to me more like warning on WHY we are doing these things. And certainly can not go wrong doing them in secrete.

But when we look at all scripture we see the apostles praying over people to be healed that is not in secrete. We see the widow giving her last to bits, that is not in secrete.

I think the widow is a different story, she really couldn't do that in secret, she was donating to the church, but even Jesus commended her for it. I agree with what you are saying when you say "It's all about the attitude" because I do think it's about whether or not we are being prideful about the situation, wanting our glory from men, rather than from God. I think we need to do our best to do our charity works in secret, but I do think that at times it is impossible to do them entirely in secret. But I do believe that it is based entirely on our spirit when we do things, whether we are doing them out of a "look at me" spirit or whether we are genuinely being humble and just doing it out of the good in our heart. I think it would be bad if we were to go around bragging about the good deeds we do because we are looking for praise in men rather than in God.

 

[Dave M]

I think it would be bad if we were to go around bragging about the good deeds we do because we are looking for praise in men rather than in God.

you mean like everyone posting on facebook when they do something good I concur with you 100%

 

[Lily Miller]

Interesting issue. Well, when Paul bragged on certain churches concerning their selfless offerings, did they lose their blessing? I don't think so.
It's good to generate energy in one's congregation by noting the benevolent accomplishments of members, especially groups. That sometimes encourages others to participate, getting in on blessings.

Losing a heavenly blessing is assured when proclaiming one's generosity among the receivers. of help. They already know when they are blessed. But if the blessor heaps a record of their works upon the blessed, the blessor receives the end of his/her blessing from the blessed instead of God. So the one blessing is better blessed by telling the blessed "The Lord provides" in true honesty.

What are you meaning by this post? I guess I'm a little confused so maybe some clarification?

 

[Dovegiven]

What are you meaning by this post? I guess I'm a little confused so maybe some clarification?

If a single parent mother needed the gas turned back on for heat, and I got on Facebook telling I arranged it, then the moment I received recognition from her or anyone else knowing her, I would that moment receive all possible blessing over that. The people involved, witnesses or receiver, would then intercept any blessing from God, since I received the praise of "men" instead of praise from God in secret, then letting it be known by others to His glory. That's why it's important to keep reports like that anonymous. Why tell it in the first place? To let people know someone is doing what Jesus would do, the sort of things all Christians should be doing. God alone deserves all praise.

 

[Dave M]

Why tell it in the first place?

yeap I agree with you. But there is another side I have herd discussed that I think is worth exploring a little more. How about when we tell people about giving when pride is not involved, we are setting a example?? I mean if you go to a church everone knows who the prayer warriors are and children can learn from them. The bible also says to pray in secrete in the same area of scripture it says to give in secrete. Dont we need examples for other to follow?

Ok so real world for ME
I personally dont think I could talk about my giving with out becoming prideful so I dont and wont. However and this is a big however what has motivated me is hearing stories like Randy Alcorn who gives aways all his book royalties for the kingdom of God, he does not tell us about this to be prideful but help inspire others.

I believe it really the condition of the heart when giving that matters, if your doing it to be seen by others as you said that is your reward.

But what if you are mature enough in your walk to tell about your giving to help encourage others to give more, and that works wonders. You know I bet people like this dont really even care about the reward as much as they do helping others and that in turn makes there reward even bigger.

 

[Dovegiven]

yeap I agree with you. But there is another side I have herd discussed that I think is worth exploring a little more. How about when we tell people about giving when pride is not involved, we are setting a example?? I mean if you go to a church everone knows who the prayer warriors are and children can learn from them. The bible also says to pray in secrete in the same area of scripture it says to give in secrete. Dont we need examples for other to follow?

Ok so real world for ME
I personally dont think I could talk about my giving with out becoming prideful so I dont and wont. However and this is a big however what has motivated me is hearing stories like Randy Alcorn who gives aways all his book royalties for the kingdom of God, he does not tell us about this to be prideful but help inspire others.

I believe it really the condition of the heart when giving that matters, if your doing it to be seen by others as you said that is your reward.

But what if you are mature enough in your walk to tell about your giving to help encourage others to give more, and that works wonders. You know I bet people like this dont really even care about the reward as much as they do helping others and that in turn makes there reward even bigger.

Paul told on the Macedonians' giving. Finances are a major part of biblical subjects, probably the largest category. If no testimony of giving is given, who would believe it is for today? If all giving is in secret, then an untold secret remains a secret, there fore subject to being dismissed as a mere fable, a possible concept perhaps acted out by anyone. When a congregation hears a financial report for the year, all hearing realize someone gave. But it remains impersonal, detached from reality, unless someone can personalize that.

I think the main reason that concept is not much displayed is a fear of people able to give being targeted for more by direct requests. That makes it easier to avoid personal connections to giving. An honest answer for them is there is a limit today to what one can provide, pending God's opening of another window of Heaven. That giver stands accountable to God for any perception they project upon others. Most people are not aware that business owners, thought to be wealthy, are doing very yet collecting at best a 4% profit. That only goes so far beyond whatever that giver needs to build the business up greater. The idea of secrecy of giving protects the wealthy from excess demands on their resources. That trickles down to the people with little to give, also protected from having to act by faith.

 

[Dovegiven]

As for praying in secret, yes, there is a need to pray to God secretly, but sometimes public prayer is needed, as when Daniel threw his windows open to pray in defiance of the royal edict. His daily prayers were very well heard, but not to be boasting. So ought to be fasting, as a congregation perhaps, when everyone needs to join in. Otherwise it would be wrong to present one's fasting as a great burden of offering. Giving was publicly performed, the poor widow pointed out by Jesus. It ought to be very public as a model to others to stretch into faith. An exception might be in a personal offering to an individual. Nobody should be embarrassed by exposing a need, which ought to be revealed to the right giver(s) who already have that need confirmed by the Spirit. The rich ought to give richly, while happy to see the poor giving less, knowing the offering of the poor might be accounted by the Lord as the greater offering according to capacity and more so, faith. It's probably harder for the wealthy to give enough to please God than the poor giving in faith, whether in secret or openly.

 

[Dave M]

I think the main reason that concept is not much displayed is a fear of people able to give being targeted for more by direct requests.

I agree, and would like to also say we have very few givers in todays church, I think the average Christian gives like 2% that is sad. We here in America live in luxury that no one in the history of the world has experienced yet most are never satisfied. Giving is a way of worship also. Show me a mans check book and I will show you where that mans heart is. Christians gave more in the great depressions then they do today. Every 7th word Jesus spoke was about wealth or materialism.

Materialism is going to cost a lot of people there eternal salvation according to the bible, best defense against it, is to give it away, give it away.

 

[jeffsi435]

I think these passages tell us that we shouldn't do these things in order to gain approval from man. Or even to gain approval from God. Because by our works we will never earn our way to heaven. Also, the Lord knows that we tend to be influenced by the approval of man and that it takes on an importance that it should not

 

[Lily Miller]

If a single parent mother needed the gas turned back on for heat, and I got on Facebook telling I arranged it, then the moment I received recognition from her or anyone else knowing her, I would that moment receive all possible blessing over that. The people involved, witnesses or receiver, would then intercept any blessing from God, since I received the praise of "men" instead of praise from God in secret, then letting it be known by others to His glory. That's why it's important to keep reports like that anonymous. Why tell it in the first place? To let people know someone is doing what Jesus would do, the sort of things all Christians should be doing. God alone deserves all praise.

I can understand where you are coming from, this is what I thought the first time I read the scripture. I then tried to read other things that Jesus said and it seems to me, that Jesus is just trying to get people to see the spirit of what he is saying. I feel that is what most of His teachings are doing (trying to get people to see the SPIRIT), so I reread the verse in question (Matthew 6:1-4) and tried to really get the SPIRIT of what Jesus was saying. What I think Jesus is talking about here is: Us as people telling something to other people just so we can get praise from men is how we lose our reward.

Say for instance, that my husband helped change someone's tire, and he went out and told everyone on Facebook that he did such a thing, then he is bragging because he wants people to say how good of a person he is. But if he were to keep that in secret and not tell anyone, but the person who he helped went and told people then I believe that he would not lose his reward. I think this way because I feel that Jesus is trying to get at the ROOT of the problem.. which would be PRIDE. If we don't boast about ourselves here, on Earth, then when we get to heaven the ultimate reward will be God saying "Well done my unprofitable servant" and that is what matters the most. That is what I feel Jesus is trying to say.

@jeffsi435 I agree with what you said, God knows that as humans what we seek is approval. We can see that clearly by what everyone is saying and doing. We cannot get into heaven simply by our works, but we will be judged according to our works and that includes going out and bragging about what we said and did; to get the praise of men. (Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." , Romans 2:6 "God will give to each person according to what he has done" , 1 Peter 1:17 "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." , Rev. 20:12-13 "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done." , Rev. 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everything according to what he has done.")

This to me clearly shows that it is serious what Jesus said... twice. He will judge us by what we did, and if he is telling us to not be boastful about our good works, and we are being boastful, then that is something we will be judged by.

Just some of my thoughts.
~Peace and Blessings, Lily

 

[Dovegiven]

I can understand where you are coming from, this is what I thought the first time I read the scripture. I then tried to read other things that Jesus said and it seems to me, that Jesus is just trying to get people to see the spirit of what he is saying. I feel that is what most of His teachings are doing (trying to get people to see the SPIRIT), so I reread the verse in question (Matthew 6:1-4) and tried to really get the SPIRIT of what Jesus was saying. What I think Jesus is talking about here is: Us as people telling something to other people just so we can get praise from men is how we lose our reward.

Say for instance, that my husband helped change someone's tire, and he went out and told everyone on Facebook that he did such a thing, then he is bragging because he wants people to say how good of a person he is. But if he were to keep that in secret and not tell anyone, but the person who he helped went and told people then I believe that he would not lose his reward. I think this way because I feel that Jesus is trying to get at the ROOT of the problem.. which would be PRIDE. If we don't boast about ourselves here, on Earth, then when we get to heaven the ultimate reward will be God saying "Well done my unprofitable servant" and that is what matters the most. That is what I feel Jesus is trying to say.

I believe Jesus will reward for good works, the Bible says so. I can't imagine what those will be like, so don't try to imagine that, realizing His rewards will of course be fantastic. Men did give into our bosom, which increased our capacity to give more. It gets to the point of "it just happens".
Worrying about losing some of those doesn't affect me. I have enjoyed receiving many rewards/blessings the Lord was behind. When my wife and I were in full career swing we tithed on our salaries and gave much larger offerings than these days. When the fund raising events arose, we bid on cakes, often paying hundreds for them, then donating them back into the same auction. There are many ways to make giving fun for a whole congregation even if a tiny number actually chip in. That stimulated other entrepreneurs to enter in, shaking some of those profits loose. If none of that happened live and witnessed, the fund raising goal would not likely be met. Secret giving goes unnoticed by the congregation, except among church staff processing checks and records. Anything unnoticed is not prone to stimulate anything.

We're probably all aware of the thousands of churches closing each year. But does anyone analyze why? It really boils down to finances suffering because of a loss of the congregations' loss of heart for the world, letting their "lighthouse" go dark. Eventually a diminishing church gives up on itself, witholding tithes and offerings, like a dying patient taken off nutrition. I've experienced community efforts to go rescue such churches with fresh preaching, teaching, and coordinating missions. If those don't spread among the congregations to expand from their own base, they flat-line (no pulse, brain dead).

Church success continues to revolve around finances. Missions to outside a church is what brings new life into a church. Amazing church sanctuaries of historical value are often now neglected properties, many ready for demolishment. That teaches potential givers to keep their wallet shut. So what does it take to stimulate the obvious remedies? Jesus preached it. Yes, Jesus did preach much about money. The way people learn about giving is primarily through teaching and testimonies, which leads to trying it, which can lead to abundance. Most receivers of help won't testify out of pride. The issue is left to givers willing to sacrifice their resources, and risk losing "rewards" if that's what it takes to stimulate loving gift giving and tithing. If people don't know others are giving, few are willing to add theirs, hearing as said here, only about 2% give anything.

 

[Dave M]

Worrying about losing some of those doesn't affect me

this statement is so from the heart !!! you see a person who is thinking of others before himself is the only type of person who would say this!!!!!! and I would bet you a cookie that type of person does not loose his reward anyhows

 

[Lily Miller]

I believe Jesus will reward for good works, the Bible says so. I can't imagine what those will be like, so don't try to imagine that, realizing His rewards will of course be fantastic. Men did give into our bosom, which increased our capacity to give more. It gets to the point of "it just happens".
Worrying about losing some of those doesn't affect me. I have enjoyed receiving many rewards/blessings the Lord was behind. When my wife and I were in full career swing we tithed on our salaries and gave much larger offerings than these days. When the fund raising events arose, we bid on cakes, often paying hundreds for them, then donating them back into the same auction. There are many ways to make giving fun for a whole congregation even if a tiny number actually chip in. That stimulated other entrepreneurs to enter in, shaking some of those profits loose. If none of that happened live and witnessed, the fund raising goal would not likely be met. Secret giving goes unnoticed by the congregation, except among church staff processing checks and records. Anything unnoticed is not prone to stimulate anything.

We're probably all aware of the thousands of churches closing each year. But does anyone analyze why? It really boils down to finances suffering because of a loss of the congregations' loss of heart for the world, letting their "lighthouse" go dark. Eventually a diminishing church gives up on itself, witholding tithes and offerings, like a dying patient taken off nutrition. I've experienced community efforts to go rescue such churches with fresh preaching, teaching, and coordinating missions. If those don't spread among the congregations to expand from their own base, they flat-line (no pulse, brain dead).

Church success continues to revolve around finances. Missions to outside a church is what brings new life into a church. Amazing church sanctuaries of historical value are often now neglected properties, many ready for demolishment. That teaches potential givers to keep their wallet shut. So what does it take to stimulate the obvious remedies? Jesus preached it. Yes, Jesus did preach much about money. The way people learn about giving is primarily through teaching and testimonies, which leads to trying it, which can lead to abundance. Most receivers of help won't testify out of pride. The issue is left to givers willing to sacrifice their resources, and risk losing "rewards" if that's what it takes to stimulate loving gift giving and tithing. If people don't know others are giving, few are willing to add theirs, hearing as said here, only about 2% give anything.

I understand where you are coming from brother, but that is not what Jesus is saying. He is not saying the second someone sees you doing something good, you lose your reward. I believe what Jesus is saying is for us to not become boastful. What usually happens when people become boastful? They tell everyone about the good deed they did because they want to seem good or proud or righteous.

Saying “I don’t care if I lose my reward” is a little reckless, heres why: In this statement I am getting a response to what I said about Jesus saying not to be boastful about our giving, like the Pharisee’s did.

The reason why this is reckless is because to me that is you saying you don’t care about the reward you could get from God, because you would rather get a reward from man. You can disagree with me all you want, but that is the impression I am under. I can see the point of it being “a selfless act” because you’re not caring about a reward in heaven, you’re just helping. That is not what I am talking about though; I am talking about being boastful and losing your reward, because you are telling anyone and everyone what you did because you want praise from men, not just doing a good thing and that person bragging about you. You WILL NOT lose your reward because SOMEONE ELSE is telling everyone what you did. But YOU WILL lose your reward because YOU TELL PEOPLE.

Jesus specifically says “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, DO NOT sound a trumpet before thee, as the HYPOCRITES DO in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have GLORY OF MEN. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The reward he says that they have is that of men, they have praise from men, not God.

If you do not understand what I am saying and you just want to argue, I am going to have to not reply. I am not here to argue, I am here to talk to people about Jesus. Pray and ask God if what I am saying could be the truth, I think what Jesus says is pretty clearly drawn out.

Peace and Blessings

 

[Dovegiven]

I think these passages tell us that we shouldn't do these things in order to gain approval from man. Or even to gain approval from God. Because by our works we will never earn our way to heaven. Also, the Lord knows that we tend to be influenced by the approval of man and that it takes on an importance that it should not

I agree approval of man is not the right goal of giving. However, Jesus will judge our works, like buring up chaff and keeping the refined golden works, and will bring rewards with Him. He has already secured our salvation benefit, while the we all ought to always seek God's approval of our works, that few of our works be rejected.

 

[Dovegiven]

Saying “I don’t care if I lose my reward” is a little reckless, heres why: In this statement I am getting a response to what I said about Jesus saying not to be boastful about our giving, like the Pharisee’s did.

I didn't say that. I wrote "Worrying about losing some of those doesn't affect me". I do consider the cost of appearing to you to be boastful, but refuse to worry about about losing a possible reward from God when weighing the spiritual benefits of certain boastings. Paul boasted much about his ministries.

I think a very vital boasting ought to be of all of us, concerning how many people we have personally led to Jesus, and how we went about it. That has a remarkable reward of inspiring others to do the same. I would gladly give up a reward to rescue one person, and have regularly done that wihthut remorse.

 

[Lily Miller]

I didn't say that. I wrote "Worrying about losing some of those doesn't affect me". I do consider the cost of appearing to you to be boastful, but refuse to worry about about losing a possible reward from God when weighing the spiritual benefits of certain boastings. Paul boasted much about his ministries.

I think a very vital boasting ought to be of all of us, concerning how many people we have personally led to Jesus, and how we went about it. That has a remarkable reward of inspiring others to do the same. I would gladly give up a reward to rescue one person, and have regularly done that wihthut remorse.

I am not too sure if you're hearing me right. So let me just lay it out straight.

If YOU TELL others about the things you do, regardless of whether you think you are being boastful or not, you ARE BEING boastful. Because you want man's praise instead of God's.

YOU CAN help others and THEY CAN GO and tell others, THIS IS THE ONLY TIME YOU WILL NOT LOSE YOUR REWARD.

JESUS LAYS THIS OUT VERY CLEARLY IN MATTHEW 6:1-4.

I am not talking about leading others to Jesus, I AM TALKING ABOUT OUR GOOD WORKS, (ex. helping the poor, giving to the needy, changing a tire, giving to those who ask) Yes leading people to Jesus is a good work, but he commanded us to do that openly, we are SUPPOSED to do this. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALMS, NOT WHAT HE COMMANDED US TO DO.

He says CLEARLY do your charitable deeds IN SECRET, along with praying and fasting; when did Paul ever talk about HIM giving to the poor, or a time that he fasted? Or maybe a time where he was praying so hard he started speaking in tongues? I don't know about you but I haven't read anywhere... and if you have read somewhere where Paul was doing it, he disobeyed Jesus and that is something that HE WILL NEED to talk to GOD ABOUT.

AGAIN, Jesus said something so WE NEED to listen to it. If YOU are going to argue with something JESUS SAID then that will be between you and God. PAUL IS NOT THE CORNERSTONE, IT IS JESUS.

Peace and Blessings Brother, Pray and ask for truth.

Lily.

 

[Dovegiven]

I light my candle so anyone looking will see it. A reason for doing that is these days, as it was in antiquity it is rare to see or hear of anything at all done in the name of Christ is happening, and when it does, there's always the population that believes it is of the Devil, even if they don't believe in a literal devil. That happened to Jesus. I will put it frankly:

Luke 11:33-36 (KJV)
33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

What difference is Jesus' performing miracles in secret, and doing them in full public view? None. The light is light, no hidden darkness. Light drives out darkness. This world needs more light. People need more good news from Christians.

The disciples wanted Jesus to go to Judea for the upcoming feast so folks could witness His deeds. Jesus didn't rebuke them for that request. Any display or telling strengthened their own ministry successes. Jesus declined because He knew the Jews were conspiring to kill Him. He sent them on, the men already doing His deeds in public. He went later under disguise, going secretly. But when the time came He let it all blaze up among his enemies, glorifying God.

The lesson Jesus taught was not to do good deeds just to be seen of men. They are to be done openly while not seeking pats on the back. The approval of witnesses glorifies God immediately among the truly appreciative. There are of course instances when a deed needs to be kept utterly secret from men, due to the need of the receiver for privacy. Of course those deeds are not told.

I've watched a wealthy man becoming quite benevolent openly for a few days around Christmas until criticism taught him to close his wallet. The blessed of him were thankful, but some rose up condemning him. Why condemn when perhaps the only issue is the man not receiving due reward from Jesus for a good deed? Isn't that between him and the Lord? The man received the smaller reward of knowing he did good things and wanted folks to know it. He was a teacher of the church program on financial security as provided by a radio finance guru who agrees with the scriptures about generosity. Most wealthy prefer to keep their wealth as secret as possible to avoid a flood of personal requests. Yes, while having no extra funds the poor can be lovers of mammon too! The people criticizing were known to be poor and struggling, but way too prideful, and loved money because they hated anyone that had riches. Read the Bible. People doing the least are the first to condemn whatever good is done the most. Hearing a first hand "boasting" as you put it offends because they do little or nothing at all. They want to keep their selfishness a secret among men like some rich want to cloak their wealth. Some very wealthy are in the same boat as the selfish poor. The difference is sometimes just the value of the car they arrive in, the shoes they wear, the jewelry, the "air" of superiority among both the poor and rich.

I am open about what I'm doing, finding most of my helps are impossible to be done in secret anyway. I will now share a 24 hour testimony even if it is called boasting. I think some here need to hear more boasting like Paul did. If these testimonies offend, then please stop reading this post.

A beloved church member was accused by a former wife of family child abuse for spanking, with no actual evidence of harm, then was put in jail on $100,000 bond. It would require posting bond of $10,000, plus co-signing with collateral. Nothing with a mortgage is accepted, only clear deed or title bound by the court. We waited for bail to drop into our ability to help. 5 months later it dropped to $25,000. His entire family was too poor to arrange the required cosign, unable to guarantee the full $25,000 should he skip the next court date. I contemplated "What price for a man's freedom?" in the courthouse conference room. I am white, he is black, something not pertaining to our friendship, but came to a very public issue. A NAACP representative was there, who could not find anyone with that much clear title equity and willing to risk it. The prison chaplain was at the end of his ability. The church policy prevents paying fees like that. It is too common for people skipping bond, which results in seizure of equity by auction of home or other resources if not paid to the court in full on time.

Eventually we discovered a plan to pay off one home loan so grandmother could put it up as a co-signer with an uncle. That happened that day through collections from church friends, even unbelieving friends, and family. But the $2,500 bail bondsman cash fee was not available. I then handed over a credit card, which surprisingly the bondsman could accept. Suddenly family members and witnesses had reason to glorify God, even the court baliff. My family and list of friends exploded yesterday. Our friend came home late at night last night. Already some family are taking out loans to repay my card.

Today we heard him testify of what happened in the jail. He became unofficial counselor to many men. Word got around that if you let him pray for you, you will probably go home the next day. Newly admitted men were typically panicked if not jailed before. Many were released within hours many times, and many professed Jesus in public there, attending daily Bible teaching by the chaplain. My friend now realizes the least he can do is volunteer with the jail chaplaincy, to help with Bible classes, and help families of incarcerated men and women. His is so far a story like that of Joseph in the Egyptian jail! Our prayer is there is still great reward for him, told or not.

If Paul were in jail today WE would do the same. I doubt my reporting such a thing here would strip US of reward from God. I will not worry about that. WE didn't do what WE did to be seen by men. WE helped a good Christian WE have great confidence in go home. Meanwhile he can't resume his job until his case is cleared, thought to be too weak for a conviction. So OUR ministry is not done.

My prayer is that just one Christian will be pricked in the heart to do something by faith that results in glory to God. My flesh had told me to be sure to leave the credit cards at home that day, but I didn't comply. Hear the Spirit and do what He says. Don't do anything just to be seen of men. They would know it and soon forget it, learning nothing and not glorifying God.