“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds
publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your
Father in heaven. When you give to
someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the
synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you
the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you
give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will
reward you.”
The question “Is there anything
there, there?” arises most often with celebrities. There is stupendous publicity (the best money
can buy) and constant news coverage. The
result is there is plenty evidence of an artfully created character on display
for public consumption, but little evidence of quiet ethical character in
decision making. There can be highly publicized examples of charity to deepen an
otherwise shallow image, but a sustaining suspicion remains that the highly
displayed charity is anything other than yet another example of incessant self-aggrandizement. As a test of sincerity Jesus said in charity
one should not let the left hand know what the right is doing. When the good deed is publicly trumpeted, it is
usually strong evidence of primarily selfish motivation. Particularly troublesome for me is the sight
of comedians performing to keep the troops laughing during their killing responsibilities
with no thought whatever as to the justifications of the war or even the atrocities
being committed. I would rather, on such
occasions, find the celebrity quietly advocating change in the voting booth.
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