Our attitude of giving during the Christmas season can stir old memories. Sometimes we remember something nice we’ve done for someone else, and other times we recall others’ acts of kindness toward ourselves. Have you ever suddenly (and for no apparent reason) remembered something good that you’ve done in the past? I believe that there may be a connection between these memories and the heavenly rewards that believers will receive in eternity.
Matthew 6:1-4 says, “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.”
It’s obvious from this passage that if we draw attention to our giving and other acts of kindness, we will receive no reward for them in heaven. We can receive either paltry earthly rewards and honor from men, or superb eternal rewards and attention from God in heaven. However, I think there’s an even deeper meaning in these verses.
We’re told to not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. This seems almost impossible, but I believe that it’s an analogy about our thoughts and our actions. We should give so freely that our hands are almost constantly giving, whether or not our minds can even keep up with that giving. In fact, we should even hope to forget these things. We should be doing so many acts of kindness that we can’t remember them all. These should just be a part of our daily routine–nothing abnormal.
I believe that pride sometimes causes us to remember good things that we’ve done. In the best case, we remember how good we were, and in the worst case, we become bitter that we didn’t receive proper recognition, or a thank-you, for our generosity. This probably means that our giving wasn’t done in grace. Instead of freely giving, with no expectation of payment, we gave while expecting something in return.
Johnny Cash once recorded a song called, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget Her,” obviously putting a comical slant on a tragic situation. We wonder why the man was able to forget to remember, yet unable to forget his true love. Have you ever wondered how much you’ve forgotten? Are you disappointed that you may have forgotten a lot? Hopefully, we’ve all forgotten plenty of things. In fact, we should thank God for forgetting. The Bible assures us that these things will be remembered at the appropriate time, by an omnipotent God.
Hi
1/.We’re told to not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. This seems almost impossible, but I believe that it’s an analogy about our thoughts and our actions. We should give so freely that our hands are almost constantly giving, whether or not our minds can even keep up with that giving. In fact, we should even hope to forget these things. We should be doing so many acts of kindness that we can’t remember them all. These should just be a part of our daily routine–nothing abnormal.
Above is posted from your comment about giving, i felt need to reply with my own interpretation.
It dont believe it refers to the “amount” of giving (although i agree it should be part of a daily routine)!!, but when something is given, that its not to be announced so every person knows about it. Their are many people in this world, i have most likley been one of them at some time “announced” that i have done a charitable deed, given away bags of clothing to the poor, donated to charities and then told family and friends that its “what i do” as if its part of my daily life! How very wrong i was!!!!
Infact i was acting like a “hypocrite”! What is refers too is that, it should be so secret that the giver readily forgets what he gave. In this way he demonstrates true righteousness before God and not before people, so God in turn will reward him. One cannot be rewarded, as the Pharisees expected, by both man and God.
A very old, poor lady used to go to the local school and feed abandoned kittens and cats. Now she didnt boast or ask for money off people, she looked after them because nobody else would. I happened to stumble across this old lady as i was driving home from work one day and decided to see what she was doing. She had nothing, but gave her all to something that was worthwhile and honest! When she did pass away, the cats were put in the local paper and if they couldnt find homes were going to be destoyed!!!! She had nothing, but gave what she could. Im sure if this lady had plenty of money, she would have done a million things to help the community.
Matthew 6:1-2
Matthew 6
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.
These are just my thoughts, so i hope they are received well.
Kind Regards
Ecclesiastes 1:18 “….and he that increaseth in knowledge increaseth in sorrow.”
I’m not one to believe that we are capable of forgetting anything permanently. What purpose would we serve to learn, but forget? If we wont need our current, water based, brains to remember the events that pass within our lives, after life, then perhaps our memories are stored within our spirits or soul? Research has even suggested that we recall past experiences from our ancestors through genetics. Is it possible? I hope so because that would be really cool.
Curse or not, some have been tasked with remembering every detail within their lives. Others seem to pass by blissfully without remembering a thing. You know the kind. They make you mad sometimes right? But when an experience is repeated, we all remember
Ecclesiastes 1:18 “….and he that increaseth in knowledge increaseth in sorrow.”
I’m not one to believe that we are capable of forgetting anything permanently. What purpose would we serve to learn, but forget? If we wont need our current, water based, brains to remember the events that pass within our lives, after life, then perhaps our memories are stored within our spirits or soul? Research has even suggested that we recall past experiences from our ancestors through genetics. Is it possible? I hope so, because that would be really cool.
Curse or not, some have been tasked with remembering every detail within their lives. Others seem to pass by blissfully without remembering a thing. You know the kind. They make you mad sometimes right, but when an experience is repeated or scene is present, we all remember that one time or another. I believe that’s why we’re suppose to press forward, stay busy, and hold captive every thought.
Ecclesiastes 1:18 “….and he that increaseth in knowledge increaseth in sorrow.”
I’m not one to believe that we are capable of forgetting anything permanently. What purpose would we serve to learn, but forget? If we wont need our current, water based, brains to remember the events that pass within our lives, after we die, then perhaps our memories are stored within our spirits or soul? Research has even suggested that we recall past experiences from our ancestors through genetics. Is it possible? I hope so, because that would be really cool.
Curse or not, some have been tasked with remembering every detail within their lives. Others seem to pass by blissfully without remembering a thing. You know the kind. They make you mad sometimes righ?, When an experience is repeated or scene is present, we all remember that one time or another. I believe that’s why we’re suppose to press forward, stay busy, and hold captive every thought. Even people suffering from hals haimers remember random events in their lives. Even if they don’t recognise Bobby from Timmy.
Personally, I find the idea of forgetting anything, joyful or painful, in my life to be frightening. “Every” memory and experience I’ve lived is apart of me. Thank God I don’t think about them all at once or I’d need a lobotomy or electronic shock therapy.
So, is it possible to do a good deed without remembering it? I don’t think so. You taught me that there were two sides to pride. Boastful selfish pride and righteous pride. Being proud of ones own deeds doesn’t necessarily lead to unrighteousness. Unless one decides that they’ve done “their fair share” before crossing the finish line. Righteous pride serves to keep us going and to ensure us we’re on the right track. Unless one is just arrogant.
Peace?
Jason