“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. “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.
We live in an age where if anyone does something good they are going to put it on YouTube or TikTok and monetize it in the name of “inspiring” others. And it works! I really do enjoy those like “Just Knate” and “Travis Doodles” who go around lifting up the homeless, or Victor the Good Boss who helps drug addicts and gives them a job. It’s inspiring and it does make you see others in a different light, inspiring you to help.
But then there are others I have to wonder if they are doing good things just to make money. And in reality, can you imagine that every time someone approaches you they have a camera on? How invasive that would feel? And then to make someone in need famous which is a curse these days as everyone begins to stalk them and have an opinion about them. Some have been really hurt by the masses.
In some ways it is a little bit tricky as in the social media world, publicity is what funds the mission. Without it, there would not be the ability of those to do great things.
I think a lot of it comes down to our heart motivation. Is someone truly putting things on social media to inspire and help others? Or are they looking to make a name for themselves? The truth is tested when no cameras are on and there is nothing to be gained. Would they still continue to do what they do? Some would for a short time, but would they for a long time?
The ego is something very sensitive and deceptive. Oftentimes we can even share things we heard in prayer and it becomes a point of boasting. We have to be careful.
The point of Jesus is this: Your righteous acts should be there, but let them be for the glory of God. When they are done to bring glory to yourself, that’s all you get. Maybe that looks like a 2 second round of applause. A clap on the back. But when these things are done for the glory of God, your reward is eternal. And that’s pretty amazing.
Choose wisely.