The ego of every human is curious. In our present state, the ability to really think and do good things seems impossible. There is always that selfish gene that always puts a slant on anything truly good and then even the good things we do become egotistical. This is a real battle.
Agency
Every human being seems like it is an agency. They must represent something. You are never going to hear about the one that is picking up trash in the woods, the one praying for their enemies in private. Yes, the one that is truly doing good things because they are good, you will never hear of them. You are going to see humans filming themselves doing good, perhaps helping the homeless or the poor. They must get it all on film so they can show everyone else how good they are. But, does their agency really believe it?
Jesus and Agency
Our LORD and Master Jesus Christ told us what NOT to do as regards our agency.
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. Matthew 6:1
Ah, very clearly our LORD says that these people filming themselves doing good things get no reward from God in Heaven. But why? If they are actually doing good things and capture it on film to show others how to be good, does this not make them good? Well, evidently not! Understand that they are doing it for the glory of men and not God, so therefore they are already getting their reward for what they do.
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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:2-4
Cringe Worthy
Our LORD is giving us an example of "Cringe Worthy" people. In other words, hypocrites, pretending to be good. They give money to the homeless and poor in order to be noticed by men. How many times have you seen these so called inspirational videos of people giving away large amounts of cash on camera. If that camera was not there, would they still do it? Seems unlikely. Weather they be building houses for the homeless, giving away cash or doing whatever good deed, they need a camera to catch it. This is so they can tout the agency they represent and therefore are given this power by men through their admiration.
Think Of The Poor
Furthermore, think of this poor person on camera. A spectacle for everyone to see their hardships. Would you want someone filming your low point in life just to show how good they are for helping you? No, there is not much love and goodness in a person that thinks if they can exploit the poor and needy, that they will be good in the eyes of men.
The LORD Jesus Tells Us What To Do
Interesting that the LORD never leaves you hanging. No, but, He also tells us what TO DO! Unlike the people who pray in public and on video to be seen by the world, our LORD tells us this.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:5-14
Levels of Good
So think of another person that wants to do good but his or her means are not that of the hypocrite. Maybe they do not have bundles of cash to give away, maybe they cannot afford to build homes for the homeless. They watch these videos and read these articles and think to themselves, why try? Well, with very little money and very little means, you can be more righteous than these cringe worthy individuals that are receiving their reward in full. Furthermore, you can receive a better reward from God and not men!
Yes Try
So, what is stopping you? The LORD says something totally different than man. Who are you to believe? Is that really a question? If you want to be good, do it like our LORD tells us to do it. In fact, go out of your way NOT to be observed by man. Like a super secret angelic spy, do good so that you have no reward from men. No not admiration, no thanks, no appreciation from man because this cheapens the act of goodness.
Do Good
So, do good because you truly believe in the good. There is only one that is truly good and it is God. Think of all the things that He has done then think of all the world that want to give the credit for what He has done to something else. When you see an Atheistic evolutionist give creative powers to something like "Natural Selection" you never see God coming in and striking the guy dead. You never see God coming in and saying, Hey, I designed that. No, but He still lets the sun shine on the righteous and unrighteous. Follow your Heavenly Father if you truly want to be good. True goodness is done in secret, you will never know about it until you do it!
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