29 November, 2022
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. – Matthew 6:3
Heavenly God, we bless your Holy Name, giving thanks for caring for your creation and shaping and molding our minds and hearts through your Son Jesus, who came as man incarnate, to save us. He healed the sick, went around preaching to all who would listen, giving his entire life for the betterment of humanity. We too are taught to always work for the good of our fellowmen, humbly and selflessly. When we give, it should be for your glory alone. Gracious God, give us a chance to serve with generosity and in a spiritual attitude, may we in all sincerity, uplift those in need.
Lord, help us to leave selfish motivations behind, so that our deeds and gifts can be pure, spiritual tributes to you, our God of benevolence. Any false attitude of acts of charity, can turn them into sinful acts, to promote one’s name and gain recognition in society. This is plainly hypocritical. Help us, by Jesus’ example, to refrain from advertising our good deeds, so that even our left hand should be ignorant of the deeds of our right hand. May we observe and display integrity of purpose in all that we undertake for your Name’s sake.
Jesus exhorted us to help the needy in an attitude of Christian charity, with secrecy and silence, to avoid worldly praise pointed at us and our deeds and to emphasize the Christian characteristics of compassion for the needy and humility in serving them without any egoistic motive. We need to let go of worldliness and let godliness determine our acts, words and deeds, to avoid letting worldly praise become our priority. As disciples of Jesus, we should give, in order to meet the needs of those who are truly lacking and exclude any ulterior motive, which is the beginning of evil. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen
