Title Don't let your left hand know
Do not let your left hand know the contents (Matt 6:1-4)
I. The Spirit of Righteousness
Everyone has a desire to look good. But the Bible commands us to be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of men. Be careful because if you don't try and make an effort, it will happen automatically.
Why should we be careful when doing righteousness? Otherwise, you will not receive a reward from your heavenly Father. Jesus hates hypocrites the most. When giving alms, do not blow the trumpet in the synagogues and in the streets like hypocrites. The Bible says that they have already received their reward (Matthew 6:2).
II. attitude of salvation
1. Do not blow the trumpet - Relief is one of the essence of the church. In the early church, when the church in Jerusalem was in trouble, the church in Corinth, the church in Thessalonica, and the church in Philippi delivered relief offerings. But the trumpet must not be blown. This means that you should not be praising yourself. This is because they steal the glory of God and hurt others' hearts. Matthew 5:13-16 says that you are the light and salt of the world. It is said to illuminate the world and live a good life. They are told not to blow the trumpet while doing this kind of good work. Good works and trumpet blowing seem contradictory. This means doing it only to glorify God. We must not shun the glory of God by boasting with our mouths.
2. Have a way to brag - There are three things you should be proud of. It should boast of God, boast of the cross of Jesus, and boast of the gospel. And there are three things you shouldn't brag about. The wisdom of the wise, the bravery of the mighty, and the wealth of the rich should never be boasted (Jeremiah 9:23).
You will know the story of the ‘frog by the pond’ who died while boasting. The flying frog, biting a branch with the help of a flying bird, flew and died while boasting about its winged reason.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what will happen in a day. Let others praise you, not with your mouth, let strangers praise you, not with your lips.” (Proverbs 27:1-2)
3. Don't let the left hand know (do it secretly) - Giving alms means not letting the other hand know what the right hand is doing. This is a secret almsgiving, and the Father who sees in secret will repay you. (Matthew 6:3-4) To let the left hand not know means to do it in secret. But doing it in secret is not easy. The left hand cannot know what the right hand is doing.
What is covert relief? In Matthew 24:31-36, Jesus praises those who are seated at his right hand for their alms. However, those sitting on the right are amazed and ask when we did this. (Matt. 25:37-39) No matter how much they searched their memories, they could not remember how they served and cared for Jesus. Then Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (verse 40). On the other hand, to those who sit on the left, he says the exact opposite of those who sit on the right. And those who sit on the left ask when did we not look after the Lord. Jesus says to those on the left, "Truly I say to you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Neira." (Matthew 25:45)
What is the lesson from the above? Matthew 6 gives the answer. “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing!” Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not forget to entertain guests, for in this way some have unwittingly entertained angels." It means that you did it unknowingly, unconsciously, and without knowing it at all. This is the secret salvation. But in secret almsgiving, there is the blessing of the Father who sees in secret.
III. Biblical Principles of Salvation
The biblical principle of salvation is stewardship. The true meaning of salvation begins with stewardship. Giving to God what is not mine, but God's, is salvation. There is a consistent answer from the praise stars of the TV program, 'Let's praise'. “Of course I did what I had to do and I don’t know why I deserve praise.”
This should be the attitude of those with a sense of stewardship.
Aren't we like whitewashed tombs, hypocrites, like the Pharisees today? Be careful! Be careful! Try! Be afraid! I want you to live a life that unknowingly entertains angels and serves the Lord unintentionally. I hope that the left hand will not know what the right hand is doing, and that he will serve his neighbors in need. And I hope you will receive a great reward in heaven.