In Matthew 6 Jesus says, ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’
Over my years of ministry I have heard countless stories from congregation members and friends of unseen good deeds. Things as simple as cooking a meal for someone when they are in a difficult patch through to giving away items to a family in need – a fridge, a bed, even a car on ‘permanent’ loan. Acts of kindness and love, often done deliberately out of a person’s faith and sometimes simply because a person felt it was the right thing to do.
Whilst many congregations run programs and individual Christians do things in the light of day, witnesses to be seen, often in a congregation or a person that little appears to being lived out a hidden world lies behind the apparent inertia.
What is more important? Giving an open witness or the things done in secret? Or does it ultimately matter? The video attached “Give a little love” by Noah and the Whale speaks of the strength of the small witnesses, not quite hidden but apparent enough to bring about transformation.