To Be or Not To Be (Seen)
In our increasingly public world where social media amplifies our actions, the motivation behind our good deeds has never been more important to examine. The tension between letting our light shine and maintaining humility sits at the heart of Christian service—how do we balance Jesus's command to let others see our good works with his warning against practicing righteousness to be seen?
The scripture presents us with what appears to be contradictory guidance. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus instructs believers to "let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." This clearly indicates that our good works should be visible to others—but with a critical qualification. The purpose isn't personal recognition but redirecting glory to God. The visibility of our actions serves as a witness that points others toward God's goodness, not our own.
Yet in Matthew 6:3-4, Jesus takes a seemingly opposite approach, teaching that "when you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." This instruction emphasizes the importance of privacy in certain acts of service, particularly financial giving. The contrast between these passages reveals an important truth: the issue isn't whether our good works are seen, but rather the heart motivation behind them and their ultimate purpose.
The biblical example of Barnabas in Acts 4 demonstrates the right motivation. When early Christians in Jerusalem had needs, Barnabas sold property and donated the proceeds without seeking attention. His pure-hearted giving stands in stark contrast to Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, who sold property but secretly kept back some money while pretending to give it all. Their primary motivation wasn't generosity but recognition—they wanted the praise Barnabas received without making the same sacrifice. The consequence for their deception was severe, highlighting how seriously God takes our motivations.
Examining our hearts requires honest self-reflection. Do we feel disappointed when our good deeds go unrecognized? Are we quick to share our charitable actions on social media? Do we engage in "humble-bragging" about our service? These reactions might indicate that our focus has shifted from glorifying God to gaining personal recognition. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"—a perfect summary of the proper motivation for all our actions.
Hebrews 10:24-25 provides another important dimension to this discussion, calling believers to "stir one another up to love and good works." This suggests that sometimes our good deeds need to be known by others—not for pride's sake, but to inspire and encourage the community of faith toward similar service. The key distinction remains: are we serving to promote ourselves or to promote God's kingdom?
Practicing truly humble service in today's attention-seeking culture requires intentional effort. Consider performing anonymous acts of kindness where the recipient cannot possibly know the source. When you do receive recognition for good deeds, graciously accept it while redirecting praise to God with phrases like, "Thank you, I appreciate that, but really all glory goes to God." This approach affirms the person offering thanks while maintaining proper spiritual perspective.
The challenge for every believer is to cultivate a heart that serves joyfully whether recognized or not, focusing on God's approval rather than human praise. By examining our motivations and practicing service that seeks God's glory above all, we live out the purpose for which we were created—to reflect His goodness in a world desperate for authentic, humble service.