It is not good to go around publishing the good works we do with great fanfare, because everything we do must be for the glory of God and not for our pride. God does not share His glory with anyone.
When Jesus went through the provinces of the places where He exhorted the word of God He saw that when the scribes and pharisees helped someone they used to spread it in the streets of those provinces, and this is why Jesus says the following:
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.
Matthew 6:2
We see this of to be praised oneself in many people, who praise themselves for the help they gave to a person in need. Helping others is good, but Jesus teaches us that when we do it, it is not necessary to publish it, since we have our reward for our good work.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:3
By saying “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” means that the help we give to others is in secret, it must be something between God and you, and this is confirmed in the following biblical verse:
So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:4
God rewards in public those who help in secret. God looks at the work that man does in the world. But he also sees how bad man does. Do not vaunt yourself for the good deeds you do, but stay between you and God because just as you do good in secret, God will reward you in public.
Jesus’ teaching confronts a temptation that remains deeply present in our generation: the desire to be seen, applauded, and admired. Social media has magnified this tendency, encouraging people to broadcast every charitable act, every donation, and every good deed. Yet the kingdom of God operates under a completely different principle. The value of our works is not measured by human recognition but by the sincerity of our hearts before God. When we serve others with the goal of receiving praise, the only reward we obtain is the fleeting approval of people. But when we serve with humility, in silence and reverence, God Himself becomes our rewarder. True generosity flows from love, not from a desire for attention. When the heart is pure, it gives without expecting anything in return, knowing that the Father who sees all things treasures the smallest act done in His Name.
Furthermore, Jesus teaches that the essence of Christian giving is rooted in secrecy because secrecy protects the integrity of our motives. When no one is watching, the true condition of the heart is revealed. It is in those private moments that God tests whether our works are born from compassion or from pride. A believer who gives secretly trains the heart to please God rather than people. This discipline cultivates humility and dependence on the Lord. It frees us from the trap of comparing ourselves with others or seeking validation. In the eyes of God, what matters most is not the amount we give, but the love with which we give it. Even the smallest act, offered quietly and sincerely, carries eternal value when it is done for His glory alone.
Let us then examine our motives and align them with Christ’s teaching. When we help the needy, support the church, or bless someone in distress, may we do it with a heart that is hidden in God. The day will come when every secret work will be brought into the light—not to shame us, but to honor the faithful. God delights in rewarding those who serve without seeking attention. His reward is far greater than human applause, for it is eternal and full of grace. May everything we do, whether seen or unseen, reflect a heart committed to glorifying God alone. In this way, our lives become a testimony of genuine humility and true worship.
13 comments on “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”
God rewards in public this who help in secret….I love this point, but all in all what we should strive for as human being is the eternal life which has been promised by our father and that is the biggest and best reward will receive if we go by His words.
Thank you and God bless
OK Ronald,
The most important thing people can receive is the eternal Life, but I think that meanwhile they are here on earth need goods for their bodies, too. So, we ought to help needy people. Good!
God bless you!
To our father in heaven your number one in my life.lord you the only one can save our marriage.and fix it.and lord its takes to people’s together to be in a marriage.lord you say the wife is suppose to their own husband.and that husband supposed to have their own wife.and lord marriage is honorable.and it’s not make to be broken.its made to stay together in for life until dealth do us apart.this is my husband Douglas gene Johnson first marriage.and lord you only can put one man and one woman together.you sod not give us no one else to be with besides husband and wife.and it’s not right for to mess around outside your marriage.its not right.and our marriage shouldn’t be like that.lord it should be the way the Lord wanted it to be.you are not suppose to walk away from your marriage.you only suppose to be with the wife only. And one thing I’m mr.Douglas g Johnson wife and I never cheated on him not once.and never will.my husband is still married to me mrs.Felicia Johnson. And he did have no business cheating on his wife at all.he left me for some one else he chose her over me. That’s not good.its wrong in the eyesight of the Lord.and it don’t make it right.whay me lord why did he cheat on me.what was the cause.and for what reason I need her did not to my husband except being faithfully to him.and eve. I stay faithfully to the gods only begotten son.and his father and my husband and my self. To all 4 of us.he just did it was t to love his ow. Wife.he rather love some o e else that’s not his.and that still not right.at all,that’s not how a marriage go walking away from your own marrige.lord in heaven please have it your way.im putting it in the of you my lord.in the blood of the of jesus.in the holy glorified Name of jesus.Amen.
Felicia,
I regret reading you are so afflicted by your husband.
What a pity. but, do you remember some time ago, Patricia advices you to accept this painful situation and try to go on your life..
If you are not able to remedy the problem, you know the proverb:
“It’s not use to cry out over spilt
milk”
The Lord God knows well your big problem and so you are suffering about.
We must go forward praying for you and your husband also… Be quiet my sister, trust in the Lord.
Lord, you are goodness it’s self you are the one and only and you are ABBA father. Lord put you loving arm around all those who are in pain about a broken marriage
Your plans and purposes for everyone of your children is love – every circumstance however hard and uncomfortable it may appear is bound in your love for those who are bound in Christ – Sing Hallelujah and praise for your fatherly love you see all things and if we listen to your word. And embrace you with everything we’ve got you children will know your goodness and your will for us is perfect
Goodness comes from you it’s a privilege to receive and to give who needs to shout and boast about it it’s a lovely intimate secret
AMEN
Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
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But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:3
Every gift, every help we can offer to our neighbor ought to be done by love, expecting to ease their bad situation we seldom know, praying to the Lord for them. The Lord God will be pleased with us if we strive to not fall into hypocrisy, not looking for others’ praise. The Lord God will reward our truly good actions.
Good actions must be done in secret so that people helped may give thanks to God, because all good gift comes from Him, even the helper needs to receive from God to be able to give to others.
The Bible tells us to do all things by charity, the bond of perfection, so that the peace of God rules in our minds, inside of us. And we must be grateful because the Lord God is not obliged to assist us, help us, but He works by his good Will, by His love towards us.
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful.” Colossians 3:15-16
May our Lord God be glorified by all His creatures. Amen
Thanks thekingjesus for into my life my log my place thanks Rabi biblical verse today is to right on my life my is to be exulted Yawheh it’s.shalom mahahim 😘💓
I want to thank God for all he has done for me, the trials and warfare”s he is taking me through now. My husband and I are struggling in our marriage, because he is not working due to a serious illness last year and it is going to take a year to recover, that is man perdition not God
He sits at home and text other people not his wife, don’t clean up, but he cook when I get home. He don’t like going places his health is good enough for him to go visit his brother at his place of business , but when I say anything about the house not being clean he act as though nothing is out of place. I am struggling with my affection for him, he is pushed me away
I try to be that virtuous wife but it is not the same with him. God I know you put is together for the 20 plus years and I will not have anything to destroy our marriage therefore I am giving Michael Jeter to you because you can do a better job than I. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
I THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER DAY I GIVE YOU ALL THE HONOR PRAISE AND GLORY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME FOR YOUR TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY BIBLE I LOVE YOU JESUS IN YOUR NAME I PRAY AMEN AND AMEN.
FOR THE YOUNG LADY THAT WAS CHEATED ON I KNOW HOW SHE FEELS I HAVE TO BUT IT IS HARD TO DEAL WITH BUT WITHOUT GOD I COULDN’T MAKE IT THROUGH EACH DAY AMEN.
AMEN FOR THE FATHER AND SON.
Amen.