Am I the only person who gets annoyed when people make charitable donations and post pictures of the recipients all over social media? I just don’t get it! Why do we need to publicize that we helped someone who was in a less fortunate position? Why do we advertise assisting someone in need? Is it that we’re doing it from the kindness of our hearts, or are we seeking recognition; a pat on the shoulder maybe? Or is it a marketing strategy to gain recognition and generate more revenue?
BELIEF SYSTEM
I grew up in a home where the teachings of the Bible were heavily emphasized. Over the years, I have tried to uphold those principles, and though I sometimes fail, I always remember to return to my spiritual heritage if you must. One of the teachings I hold dear is that which concerns the act of giving. The Holy Bible speaks of the giving of “alms” that http://www.dictionary.com defines as, “money, food, or other donations given to the poor or needy; anything given as charity.” Note, this definition also includes the word “charity”. What is charity? Charity is defined as, “an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need” or “the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need” (www.dictionary.com). Put simply, charity and the giving of alms is the act of giving to those who are in need. The Bible endorses the act of giving and Christianity was founded upon this principle when Jesus gave His life to save us. It is interesting that in all my years of reading the Bible, I have never seen where Jesus spoke about the people He assisted. Instead, the people, being filled with joy after receiving their miracle, voluntarily testified of His goodness. His work spoke for Him!
UNPOPULAR OPINION
We live in a day and age where announcing our ‘goodness’ has become the order of the day. Plastered on social media are pictures and videos of someone else is posing with the needy, showcasing what they have done for them. I struggle with this, especially because Jesus taught that when we give, ” let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” which simply put means, no one needs to know. He then promises to reward us if we follow this basic principle- ” let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” (Matthew 6:1-4).
Now I know this is a Christian perspective and everyone is not a Christian. However, what about having a moral compass? What about being human? How would you feel if someone gave you food because you were hungry and had cameras flashing in your face at the same time? I don’t think we need to be Christians to understand that this can be a very humiliating experience!
NORMALIZE SECRET GIVING
God instructs us to be kind and to look out for our brother. Even if you’re not a Christian, it’s humanly to do same. As we approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas season, let us remember that it pays more to give than to receive, and when we give, we do not need to announce our good deeds because The One who really needs to see this, He sees ALL and “…does not need to go on social media to find out” (Roberts, 2020).
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