Charity in Secret

[andersr915]

So, our LORD speaks in the gospel of the necessity of keeping charity a secret so that only God sees and therefore, it is a genuinely good deed for no reception of praise from the world is received. This seems easy at first, but in practice, what of when we give to someone else and they themselves tell others of it? Or what if it must be done in front of others for the sake of the opportunity being seized? I get that the greater message is that charity shouldn’t be done for the sake of praise but for the sake of loving thy neighbor, but I just can’t shake this feeling of hypocrisy in letting charity be seen by/spoken of by others. Any thoughts?

Also, yes I see the irony of this post

 

[BartholomewB]

Or what if it must be done in front of others for the sake of the opportunity being seized?

Jesus himself has answered your question. The good Samaritan acted promptly. He didn’t wait until nightfall, so that no one would see what he was doing.

 

[MeganCecilia]

I get that the greater message is that charity shouldn’t be done for the sake of praise but for the sake of loving thy neighbor,

This is exactly it that’s what Jesus was saying. Don’t boast about your good deeds to look like a good person.

It doesn’t matter if others do see it. It’s all about intent. When people see others do good they are often inspired to do so themselves!!

Don’t think too much into this. Give/help because you care about others that’s all that matters and is what Jesus was saying

 

[Beryllos]

Jesus also told us to be the light of the world, and not to hide the lamp but let it shine. Your works of charity set a good example to others and encourage them to do good works also. You don’t have to announce your good works or keep them secret. Just do them with love… and humility.

 

[Greenfields]

Donations can always be given anonymously if one wishes ,and if it is something that sits better with the giver.

 

[fredystairs]

This is exactly it that’s what Jesus was saying. Don’t boast about your good deeds to look like a good person.

^^This…

 

[brown_bear]

When I was a child, in the summer months, we went to Holy Mass in a church where the names of the benefactors were engraved on a large marble slab.

Small as I was, it seemed to me a real vulgarity.

However, as andersr915 seems to me to suggest, there are circumstances in which a certain notoriety of charity cannot be avoided or may even be appropriate.

 

[Bluebright]

I think that this is just to teach us humility, so we don’t go about bragging about things we have done (love of the world) that haven’t been noticed. Like for instance going and telling everyone that you bought a cup of tea for a homeless man today… but if people see then they see. But if you want particularly to practice acts of charity in secret to develop the virtue of charity and/or humility then ask Jesus to provide opportunities for you to do so and then just trust in him to do so. Then it is up to Him if people see or not, the point is you did not ask for or tell other people about these acts( love of God). He will most certainly give you these opportunities, just keep your eyes open for them and remember that they will be visible to some people, just not to others, let Him pick who and why, that’s not up to you. As long as you don’t go around bragging about them and you do them out of love of God, you meet the criteria that Jesus was talking about.

 

[Pattylt]

In Judaism there are levels of charity and the blessings that come from it.
The highest level is one in which neither donor nor recipient knows where it came from and who it goes to so there isn’t a feeling in the donor of knowing who received it as well as the recipient feeling shame if he should meet his donor.

All forms of charity are a blessing however as sometimes the donor and/or the recipient knows. But, if someone is able to donate secretly, it’s preferred.

I tend to send cash to my favorite charities and never give any information. It prevents getting put on mailing lists and being hounded forever by them! :hugs:. Perhaps not the intention that Judaism would like but I prefer all my donations are private affairs.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

It seems to me there are a couple angles here.

First, let’s say that 1,000 people donate to build a church. It would seem to me to be proper to have 1,000 bricks inscribed with their names in the foyer or someplace. It’s not to glorify them, it’s to emphasize that so many people donated, and it’s a church for all the people, not some rich benefactor.

Second, let’s say you give $100 million to a university or a hospital and they build a library or a cancer wing or something and want to name it after you. I would refuse and ask them to name it after someone I admired who was connected with the institution–after a thorough background check of that person to make sure there are no skeletons.

Third, if you give small amounts (for me that would be $50 or so), I would never attach my name to it. Not just because of modesty, because I would be inundated with requests by mail, phone, e-mail…in fact, I do give to a charity regularly–on condition they never, ever approach me for a donation. As soon as they do, my donations stop. So far they have honored my wishes.

Those rich folks who give tons of money (Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, Gates Foundation, etc.) are either a) trying to make amends for overcharging customers and underpaying workers (if they didn’t do either, they wouldn’t have all those millions…) or b) having control so they can curry favor with politicians, people they need a favor from, etc.

But on the other hand, no one is forcing them to give away their money. They could have simply bought another yacht or another election. So a poor motive still leads to a good outcome.