Jump Start # 3361

Matthew 6:3 “”But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Our verse today comes from that powerful sermon on the mount. The middle section of that sermon, Matthew six, deals with attitudes and worship. The subjects of giving alms, fasting, praying and worry fill this part of the sermon. What goes on inside of us is as important as what goes on outside.

As Jesus expounds upon instructions about helping the poor, He says, do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. Literally, that cannot happen. We know when we pick something up with our right hand. We know when we extend our right hand to shake the hand of another. Our hands move as our brains tell them. But the right hand, left hand illustrations are used to describe something very close, intimate and part of us. Jesus doesn’t say, ‘Don’t let the folks in Africa know what you are doing?’ That’s pretty easy to deal with. He doesn’t even say, “Don’t let your neighbors know what you are doing?” We close the doors of our homes and I cannot tell you what TV shows my neighbor is watching or even if he is watching TV at all. Right hand and left hand were a lot closer than continents, neighbors, or even those in the same house. One doesn’t get much closer than right hand and left hand. Right hand and left hand are part of the same body.

So, how is it that one hand does not know what the other hand is doing? What is Jesus driving at?

First, when there is no knowledge of what the other is doing, one is unaware. Jesus is telling the disciples to help the poor. But do it in such a way that it is done in secret as the next verse states. What you do is not to be done before men. There is no bragging here. You helped someone and that’s as far as it goes. Others do not know about it. Others won’t feel jealous. Others won’t feel guilt. They won’t because they simply do not know what you have done. The right hand and the left hand do not know what they have done.

Some will only do something if they can get a little recognition, praise and shout out for what they did. The motive, when that happens turns. Rather than helping someone, you have turned the attention to yourself and what you have done.

Can you help someone out? Just do it. Don’t organize a big campaign, post something on social media and make a big deal out of things. Instead, just do what you can.

Second, in the course of a disciples life, there ought to be so many opportunities to help, share and be generous that one simply does not remember them all. One doesn’t keep track. One doesn’t remind the person helped that you were there for them. The right hand and the left hand do not know what each has done. Meals bought for others. Helping another out on a Saturday. Having conversations that encourage. Answering Bible questions. Giving of gifts. So much done in a life time and one does not keep a record of these things. He just does them. People will come up and say, “Remember, when you helped me out a few years ago,” and the disciple might not even remember. Left hand and right hand. That’s the key.

One doesn’t use the opportunity to help someone as an advantage or pressure to get something in return. I invite you to my house, so you ought to invite me to your house. No. I buy your lunch so you ought to buy my lunch. If that’s the way we are thinking, first, we are aware of what our hands have done. Secondly, our motives are vain and selfish. It’s not about us. It’s not about what we get in return. Help where you can.

Third, most of us have been helped by others. The time when we were young in the faith and someone took us under their wings and helped us grow. Congregations that allowed us the opportunity to lead a song, offer a prayer, teach a class. It was the start of a lifetime of those things. We have been encouraged. We have been helped. Others have been patient with us. We stumbled along at first. We made many mistakes at first, but what a joy to see the growth and belief that others saw in us.

And, as we have been helped, so we now need to help others.

Right hand– left hand. We need them both to function. It’s hard to type with just one hand. My wife can’t play the piano well with just one hand. Hard to golf with just one hand. There are right handed people and left handed people. When it comes to helping others, don’t let others know what you are doing. Just do it.

Roger

Jump Start # 2583

Matthew 6:3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”

One of the things staying home during this epidemic has done is given many of us time to do household projects that we have put off for a long time. Spring cleaning took on a new look this year. Many have gone through closets, garages, attics, and basements and gotten rid of so many things that they have been holding on to for a long time.

I recently went through a bunch of pictures that were on the computer. It was time to transfer them and get them organized. It’s one thing to clean out a closet or go through old clothes that you no longer wear. But when you go through pictures, you just have to stop and look at them. And, oh the memories that they bring to your mind and heart.

There was a series of vacation pictures with the kids when they were little that I came across. Bright smiles, happy faces and wonderful times. As I looked at those little precious faces it occurred to me that they had no idea what all it took to pull off those vacations. There was the expense factor. There was packing. There was planning. There was traveling. There was taking care of things at home while we are gone. There was getting folks to fill in for me to preach and teach. The kids jumped in the car and didn’t have a clue what all we had done to make it possible. They simply enjoyed the trip.

That is not only true of family vacations, but it’s the very thing going on right now with shepherds of God’s church. Discussions are taking place about getting back to worship again. Boy, we are wanting that so bad. But, many do not realize all of the discussions, planning, thinking and talking that has gone on and continues to go on. We just can’t open the doors and expect things to be just as they were. How are we going to handle the Lord’s Supper? Do we have to sit every other pew? What about bathrooms and nurseries? What about classes? How do we keep everyone safe and how do we focus upon the Lord?

Our verse today, taken from the sermon on the mount is about giving. Don’t let one hand know what the other is doing. Physically, that isn’t possible. But spiritually, Jesus is saying do good and don’t tell others. Just do it. Don’t be bragging. Don’t expect a shout out. Don’t toot your own horn. Don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Now, I thought of this passage, beyond the scope of giving, but what goes on among leaders that most never think about. I know for our congregation, the leaders have had so many conference calls, often more than one a week. We can’t just open the doors and tell people, “Come.” There are so many things to think about. There are so many things to plug the deacons in with. And, what goes on behind the scenes are the kind of things that goes on all the time. The right hand and the left hand are not aware of this. Often, by the time we hear of something, the shepherds have already been talking about it and shaping plans of action. We see a family that is no longer attending. We wonder, “Why don’t the elders do something?” They have. Long before we ever thought of this, they have been working on this. Here is someone whose marriage is falling apart. By the time you and I see how bad things are, we wonder, “why aren’t the elders doing something?” They have been. Many times for months and months, they have been doing things. The right hand simply did not know what the left hand did.

So here are some things you and I can do to help the shepherds.

First, pray for them. They are traveling down roads that none of us have ever been on before. It’s one thing to cancel one service because of snow. That’s pretty obvious. But what we are experiencing is hard. Some do not think services ought to be cancelled. Ever. Some do not think it’s right to take the Lord’s Supper at home. Then there is the concern for our older members, who are at the highest risk right now. What’s best for them? Then there is trying to keep us all moving the same direction. Then there is trying to communicate with the congregation. Then there is the concern about some who are hurting financially. There is a lot going through their minds and hearts. There are physical safety concerns. There are spiritual concerns. There are emotional concerns. Pray for these dear men. They are trying their best. Their decisions are based upon what’s best for us.

Second, be willing to understand and be a team player. What if health regulations only allow fifty to assemble at a time? Which fifty? Who decides? How do they decide? How do we not hurt feelings? There will be times for the call for volunteers to help out. Don’t be a stick in the mud. Do what you can. Look among your resources and offer to share things to them.

Third, hold back on your complaints. This isn’t easy. Imagine being in their shoes right now. There is nothing to fall back on as examples to follow. There are so many things to think about, from the size of class rooms, young babies, older members, how to do things, even such as opening doors. And, everyone is a great arm chair quarterback and backseat driver. There may be adjustments that they have to make. There may be a few things that they try, but then have to stop because it’s not the best way of doing things. You and I are sitting anxiously in our homes and just want to get back to the church building and everything be just the way it was. So many things have to be done. And, when one hand doesn’t know what the other hand is doing, it’s easy to shoot our mouths off and say things that shouldn’t be said. We see the world from our perspective and forget about other aspects. They are trying to think of everything and everyone. They are trying to anticipate every scenario. They are thinking of things we’d never think about. Be patient with the shepherds.

Fourth, this ought to push our esteem and appreciation for the shepherds to the highest level. We preachers just preach. We can focus upon text and all we have to worry about is cameras and recording. The shepherds have all these other things to consider. They want us to be healthy, safe and walking with the Lord. Have you taken the time to thank your shepherds? They are doing so much that you would never believe or understand. Drop them a note. Send them a text. Instead of complaining to them, how about letting them know that you love them and that they have your support? How about offering your time if there is anything that you can do?

For congregations that are not led by wonderful shepherds, these are indeed dark times. Who will make all these decisions? Will anyone? Updates, open communication and keeping in touch is vital and powerful shepherds know that. Before too long, we will walk back into that church building. And, as you do that day, realize hours and hours and hours of planning, cleaning, prayers and making the tough call has been made.

One hand often doesn’t know what the other hand is doing. Be thankful that great men are at the helm through this storm. We’ll make it safely through, thanks to the Lord and the wonderful guidance of godly shepherds.

Personally, I extend my heart and thankfulness to Bill, Larry, Lee, Brent, Danny and Jim. You guys are keeping us safe and strong. You are my heroes!

Thank you!

Roger

Jump Start # 2177

Matthew 6:3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Anonymous—that certainly seems to be the hot topic of the week politically. The New York Times published a tell-all inside story of the goings on of the White House. The article was written by an anonymous senior staffer. Now the hunt is on to reveal who this is person. Then, Bob Woodward published a book in which he interviewed dozens of anonymous high ranking officials about the current President.

Anonymous is certainly making the rounds. But this is nothing new. Mr. Anonymous has been alive and well for years and has had an influence upon the spirit of congregations. An unsigned letter is mailed to the elders or the preacher. In it, a scathing rebuke is made and the charge that certain ones have no business in the Lord’s business. The words are plain, harsh and unsigned. Those that received the letter try to figure out who wrote it. The rebuke stings but it is often one sided and doesn’t understand the whole story.

Sometimes anonymous appears in other forms. Instead of a letter, it is an imagery crowd. Someone declares, “Everyone is upset about this.” The “Everyone,” happens to be me, myself and I. Or, “no one goes along with this,” is often just me and my wife. Making the crowd larger than what it really is, supposedly gives more credit and substance to one’s disapproval. It sounds better if one can say, “Everyone,” rather than just, “Me.”

Our passage has a spirit of anonymity within it. It is directed toward doing good. Helping the poor and not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing, is another way of saying, don’t toot your horn. Don’t pat yourself on the back. Don’t brag about what you have done. Just do good and do it in secret. Don’t let others know. Now, this is in the arena of goodness. You help someone. You give someone a gift. You compliment someone. You encourage someone. You don’t have to make a big deal about that, rally the troops and lead the charge. Just do what you can and forget it. Don’t keep track. Don’t remind the receiver of the gift you gave. Don’t put guilt upon others because you did something and they didn’t. Just silently do good.

That’s our passage. That makes sense. That’s one time being anonymous is good. It seems that we often get things backwards. When it comes to doing good, we tend to brag. However, when we want to express our complaints, we hide in the shadows of being anonymous.

Through the years, I have received a few anonymous letters. Most were negative. Most were trying to set things in order as they saw them. Here is what I learned from anonymous letters.

The person who sends anonymous letters is not interested in a discussion. They don’t want resolution. They want to tell you how wrong you are. Their mind is made up. They are not interested in hearing what you have to say. They are finished. This is their last parting shot.

The person who sends anonymous letters does not want to participate in helping fix things. They lay it all upon you. Here’s the problem. You must fix it. They do not have solutions. They do not want to be a part of the solution. They see some injustice and expect you to take care of it.

The person who sends anonymous letters wants to hide in obscurity. They do not want to be known. They can fire shots across the bow and even say mean and hateful things without any consequences because no one knows who they are. They are bold in their anonymity. They would never say to your face what they send in an anonymous letter. They are as bold as Luther, nailing the 95 protests to the door, however, unlike Luther, these folks would do it in the middle of the night and no one would ever know who authored those things. Notes typed out so no one can recognize the handwriting. Notes slid under an office door. Notes threatening trouble if action is not taken. Demanding. Hateful. Unkind. One sided.

The person who sends anonymous letters is not walking in the steps of Jesus. Remember the Matthew passage, if someone sins against you, go and reprove him in private (18:15). That’s the Biblical pattern. These days, an anonymous letter would be sent to the offending person. Harsh language and threats would be made. Rather than follow Jesus’ words, where a discussion can take place. Where there is an opportunity for apologies, forgiveness and grace, our way blows things up. It makes a mess. How can one apologize if they don’t know who to or what the situation is about. It’s like what typically happens in many marriages. The wife walks into the room, obviously upset. The clueless husband asks, “What’s wrong?” She says, “You know.” And, he doesn’t. He panicky tries to think of something. Her birthday? Our anniversary? Did I say something about her mother? Did I forget to pick something up on the way home? She becomes more upset because he doesn’t know. Anonymous letters do the same.

So, what am I to do if I am upset with someone? What if I do not agree with something the preacher said? What if I don’t think the elders are on the right path with something they are planning? What should I do?

First, calm down. That’s important. Breathe. The fiery spirit is what writes the anonymous letters. Pray. Think things out.

Second, find a mutual time to meet with the person you are upset with and talk with him. Going out the door of the church house is not the time nor the place. Making a scene in front of others is not the place.

Third, when you meet, be calm. Address the issue. Don’t attack the person. Don’t bring up a bunch of stuff that is unrelated. Explain how you feel and why you are upset. They may not know. Don’t play guessing games.

Fourth, listen. Allow the person to respond. Now, they may go on the attack, and that’s wrong for them. Most times, a person naturally puts up a form of defense. Often, they may not even know that you were hurt or have even considered your perspective. I have had people upset with something I said in a sermon. We talked about it. On one occasion, we sat together and listened to a replay of the sermon. I never said what they thought I did. The facts were put before them and we discovered that there wasn’t a problem after all. This can only happen if you are as willing to listen to them as much as you want them to listen to you.

Fifth, if you are in the wrong, apologize. If they are, offer grace. Try to build bridges to connect, not fences that keeps us apart. Consider who the person is. Consider the big picture. A child of God is more likely to do what is right than a person of the world. Someone not following God is as likely to deny, lie, distort to save face. That does become a real problem. But among brethren, you want to strive to keep unity. You want to honor Christ. The right thing needs to prevail. Don’t be too big to admit wrong. Don’t be too harsh to forgive.

Finally, if the other person is in the wrong, work to make it right. Be part of the solution. Then, once you have moved past this, let it go. Don’t remember it. Don’t keep reminding others of it. Don’t gossip. It’s finished, so act that way.

And for those of us that receive anonymous letters, there is a special round container that they need to placed in. It’s called the trash can. Read the letter. Think about it. Then toss it. If a person won’t be honest enough to do what Jesus wants, don’t let it get under your skin.

I love the story of two men in the church who had a falling out. It got ugly. They finally met to talk it out. One was really mad. He was ready to put the other guy in orbit. As the discussion began, one asked if he could say a prayer. He prayed that he would listen to his brother. He prayed that his heart would be open to how he had hurt him. He prayed for forgiveness. He prayed that their friendship through all these years would not end. He thanked the Lord for this good heart that came to him. This went on for a while. When the prayer ended, he said, “Please tell me how I have hurt you.” The other man, with tears running down his cheeks, said, “It’s ok. Let’s be friends.”

Maybe if we prayed together more, and sent fewer anonymous letters things would be better among us. It’s a mess in Washington. What’s missing in all of that political turmoil is the spirit of Jesus. I don’t know how all of that will turn out, but I do know, if you and I walked more closely to the Lord, all of our relationships, even the bumpy ones, would improve.

Signed, anonymous.

No, I mean, Roger.