Should we really be doing acts of charity in silence?

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Agnes_God

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“take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
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When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites 2 do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
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But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
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so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matthew 6.1-4
Ive always wondered about this, is it wrong to do acts of kindness so that others may follow your example? I have some issues with this. Im outspoken and am always the first to crack a good joke in a group yet I partake in acts of kindness/charity that people dont see because I want to follow what Jesus said. Problem is that people never expect me to be a decent person and are usually surprised to find out im catholic let alone a decent person who devotes her time to charity work when she can. Im not expecting a medal and i could not care in the slightest about receiving recognition for my work but is it wrong to tell people about your work knowing youre an influential person and when it can lead others to do such work? Should I be lying about where I go when I am engaging in righteous work?
 
Nope. Don’t lie about it.

If it comes up in conversation, talk about it matter-off-factly. If not, don’t bring it up.

Personally, I respect people more when I find out about the charitable work they do by “mistake” or by surprise. The fact that they’ve never discussed it is admirable, methinks. They inspire me more than those who constantly crow about their work in this area or that area, which is what the scripture you quoted addresses.

Now if you’re a coordinator for ongoing charitable events and are responsible for recruiting people to participate, that’s an entirely different matter.
 
Agnes_God said:
“take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
2
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites 2 do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
4
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matthew 6.1-4
Ive always wondered about this, is it wrong to do acts of kindness so that others may follow your example? I have some issues with this. Im outspoken and am always the first to crack a good joke in a group yet I partake in acts of kindness/charity that people dont see because I want to follow what Jesus said. Problem is that people never expect me to be a decent person and are usually surprised to find out im catholic let alone a decent person who devotes her time to charity work when she can. Im not expecting a medal and i could not care in the slightest about receiving recognition for my work but is it wrong to tell people about your work knowing youre an influential person and when it can lead others to do such work? Should I be lying about where I go when I am engaging in righteous work?
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It’s all about intention. Don’t do your acts of charity to receive praise from men. It’s impossible to do acts of charity in complete secret, because acts of charity almost always involve helping people.
 
Even better, share with those around you how fulfilling it is to serve, and invite them to join you.

We are not to serve ecause we want the glory, we are to serve to point others to Christ…I love you because HE first loved me. Get so filled up with His love that it splashes out on everyone around you and they will see Christ!
 
Often volunteers receive certificates and celebrations due to helping people and that’s great. Some people even get the keys to the city, or very grand praise such as that Pilot who landed in the Hudson River saving everybody on the plane.

I really believe, though, that many or even most of those who help others don’t desire having their charity, “put out there.”

If I ever did anything that would warrant great adulation of the masses-unlikely-;).

You know something like pull a child out of the water or stop someone from robbing a bank I wouldn’t want media attention at all-i’m a shy person- but I would be forced to receive the attention as the official “spokesman” for the event. Usually these folks really downplay what they did in a situation and I think that is a great way to be- humble Like Jesus.

Now if you are at work- then you really SHOULD get praise for, not necessarily for charity. but for doing a good job- which may or may not involve Corporal Acts of Charity.

Funny thing about dying is that you longer have control so EVERYBODY praises you! Well unless you weren’t a HUGE jerk! 😃
 
When considering one’s acts of charity, it’s important to note how important the giving is to the giver. It’s a form of self-denial, and it requires faith to do it.

I need to give of my excess, because I need so much help breaking my material attachments. My giving doesn’t prove how generous and wonderful I am; it exposes how much extra I have and how self-centered I’ve been; it shows me that what I really need is the grace of Christ and just enough material support to get by.
 
I have a friend who seems “happy go lucky” and too is always ready with a joke or a “witty pithy saying” that makes people laugh. He is well liked and not real “public” about his faith. Everyone knows he is a Christian…but he rarely will “evangelize” with words.

As a Friend I don’t particularly “celebrate” Xmas…it’s just not a big deal to me…one Xmas he asked me if I’d like to have dinner with him…I said “Sure, what time?” He asked me to get to his place early…around 9:30 am or so and don’t worry about dressing up…wear something very casual.

I figured we’d “open gifts” so I ran out and bought him a bottle of wine he liked…I really couldn’t think of anything else.

I get to his house and he leads me to the car and we take off to the local rescue mission to serve Xmas dinner. I was stunned…I had no idea this is what he had in mind…I asked him how long has he been doing this…he said he does it every Xmas…“Isn’t this what Xmas is all about?” he asked…I had a blast!!! I never had so much fun washing dishes and taking out the garbage or sweeping the floor and clearing tables in my life!!!

We left and went back to his place in the afternoon and had ham sandwiches and the wine I brought…we spoke of spiritual things and our experiences with God and what our respective faiths meant to us…he kept his good works secret and only his Father in heaven knew how he spent his Xmas’s…it made quite an impression on me.

One year I asked my brother to come for Xmas and not wear anything fancy…but dress real casual…🙂
 
mommybug47 said:
Even better, share with those around you how fulfilling it is to serve, and invite them to join you.

We are not to serve ecause we want the glory, we are to serve to point others to Christ…I love you because HE first loved me. Get so filled up with His love that it splashes out on everyone around you and they will see Christ!
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Thanks to everyone for answering, it has been most helpful. I especially agree with this quote mommybug, I would only ever tell someone (not everyone) if it was brought up and to let them know that the only reason why id do it is to serve because Christ served and that this is what a Christ-centred person does.

Ck i agree, it is all about your intention, and ive found that it is impossible to do acts of charity in complete secret (unless of course youre donating money which is easy enough to keep secret). Non-sum i admire that self denial quality youve mentioned and ive never really thought about it that way, i just look at it as a genuine love for christ but youre right, when it comes to parting with things and material possessions its very much a form of self denial.

And i liked your story Publisher, its that completely stunned reaction that makes people remember Chrisr, rather than if your friend was babbling about it to everyone, nobody would really care. Its what inspires other people and brings them to Christ.
 
Doing charitable works in secret, especially if you are wealthy, will cause you to be mocked, jeered at, called filthy names and bullied by those who believe that unless you are blowing a trumpet and calling attention to yourself, or taking it off your taxes, you aren’t doing anything. Especially if you are living comfortably – and clearly have something left that the envious and jealous believe should rightfully be taken from you and given to someone they think deserves it more than you do.

In this case, practicing charity in secret is truly carrying your cross and suffering with Christ. I believe that is why He wants us to do our charitable works in this way.

P.S. For those who are the mockers, the scornful and the envious/jealous of TheRich, you might think about this before you open your mouths to condemn. Just sayin’ …
 
Certainly one should not be trumpeting this sort of asctivity from the rooftops, and as for bad treatment you might receive due in some way to your charitable works, that’s good. You can offer up your suffering and join it to the cross so that it becomes sanctified. The same goes for any adverse situation, whether it be an illness or as loss of some sort or whatever. And the only one yuo need to be concerned with knowing what you’re doing is God. And Him knowing all about it should bring you joy in the midst of any suffering. Just think of your eternal reward that you will receive someday.

Now in some cases you may have to reveal a little about your activities, especially if you would like others to help too. For instance, I belong to an internet group that knits and crochets rectangles which are then put together to make afghans that are given to our wounded military members. Not only can we use other people to knit and crochet but there is always the need for donations of yarn and donations of money to cover the cost of mailing the packages to the medical centers. Anyone interested in this type of thing can contact me, and I will be glad to send them the info. It’s the kind of thing that whether you send a donation or you just make one rectangle you’ve helped a great deal. And it’s very simple so those whithout expertise can do it too. Other than that I don’t say anything more, am very factual and matter-of-fact about it.
 
Virtuous acts of charity are self evident and not even the smallest act of kindness goes unnoticed by the Lord.
 
You can tell others about the organisations you give to/volunteer for – e.g. if somebody says how horrible things are in Africa you can tell them about CRS w/o mentioning, “I just sent off a $100 check.”

I give blood & have built up a collection of Red Cross t-shirts, if any co-workers ask/mock I don’t hesitate to tell them they’d be ideal donors (they’re almost all younger than I).
 
didymus said:
You can tell others about the organisations you give to/volunteer for – e.g. if somebody says how horrible things are in Africa you can tell them about CRS w/o mentioning, “I just sent off a $100 check.”

I give blood & have built up a collection of Red Cross t-shirts, if any co-workers ask/mock I don’t hesitate to tell them they’d be ideal donors (they’re almost all younger than I).
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I have the same point of view as didymus. When you do something good, you shouldn’t be quiet about it. If it is a good time for it, just encourage someone to do a good thing in a particular situation. If they seem to be worry about African people, or floods all over the world in various countries and you already helped the people in need, then tell him how to support them and you will help them once again, by telling him how to do it.
 
Agnes_God said:
“take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
2
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites 2 do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
3
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
4
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” Matthew 6.1-4
Ive always wondered about this, is it wrong to do acts of kindness so that others may follow your example? I have some issues with this. Im outspoken and am always the first to crack a good joke in a group yet I partake in acts of kindness/charity that people dont see because I want to follow what Jesus said. Problem is that people never expect me to be a decent person and are usually surprised to find out im catholic let alone a decent person who devotes her time to charity work when she can. Im not expecting a medal and i could not care in the slightest about receiving recognition for my work but is it wrong to tell people about your work knowing youre an influential person and when it can lead others to do such work? Should I be lying about where I go when I am engaging in righteous work?
Click to expand...
The scripture you quote is in the interests of humility, of doing good deeds for love not for gain.
You ask if you should lie to conceal righteous deeds. It wouldn’t be virtuous to sin by lying in order to conceal good deeds. Just don’t make any fuss about them and be calm and natural about them.

There is a time and a pleace for everything.
Scripture also tells us in I Peter 2:12: to live so that unbelievers " may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
 
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