But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:3 ESV
We love to show off. Its in our nature, we want to be the best, do the best, and generally make others see how great we are. If this wasn’t a problem historically, it certainly is now, especially with the rise of social media and the selfie.
But this is exactly what Jesus warns us against. Instead of showing everyone the amazing gifts or acts of service we give to others, we are called to hide it away. So much so, that our left hand does not even know what our right hand is doing! This means that we aren’t even supposed to dwell on what we have given to others.
So why this commandment? Well there seems to be an obvious answer & a more speculative answer.
Let’s start with the obvious. As Chirstians we are to bring glory to God and serve Him, this means if we are bringing glory to ourselves by showing off, we aren’t giving it to God. We are taking something which is rightfully God’s. We are also supposed to be humble and replicating Christ’s life which was all about avoiding the earthly glory people were desperate to bestow on Him.
The second, and more speculative answer comes from more of a psychological perspective. I’ve been listening to a few really interesting people regarding brain health lately and a reoccurring theme is a) the importance of being part of a team, and b) the dangers of self glorification.
Let’s explore self glorification a little bit, this is when a person seeks glory for themselves, often through social media and other internet based platforms. The problem with this is, this need for validation from others, has been closely linked with depression and anxiety, amongst other things. In this verse, self glorification is exactly what we are being called to avoid. Rather we are being called to be loving, generous, and humble.
I find it so interesting that 2000 years later we are finding that the commandments Jesus gave us are not only true, but also vital for maintaining mental and physical health. Its really quite phenomenal!
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Musings by Tee 