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Writer's pictureDr. Simon Olatunji

God’s “Let” Diary (Part 91) — Let Not Your Left Hand Know What Your Right Hand Does

Daily Scripture Threshing for Monday, September 14, 2020


Today’s Text: Matthew 6:1-4


Key Verses: Matthew 6:3 (KJV) — “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”

During the days of Jesus’ flesh, almsgiving was something that rich men do to gain the praise of men. They like to choose and announce a certain day on which their alms are distributed, and send trumpet callers out to gather the poor and beggars together. Jesus Christ, our Lord raises a question of character and gravity against such act. He wants us to realize and appreciate that every good things come from God, who also follows our attitudes to the blessings — our gratitude for them, their use and distribution — with so much interest.

Through this teaching, our Lord is teaching us two important spiritual lessons: first, we must learn not to point to ourselves in our administration of God’s stewardship of resources. Other people, in this sense, are described as our left hands. In the second place, during the days if Christ, there is the prevalent idea of the right hand symbolizing the higher spiritual element in us that leads to acts of true charity; and of the left as the baser, self-seeking nature. This is the same sense by which a man sitting at the right hand was nobler than the one on the left.


The spiritual lesson of this proverbial and hyperbolic teaching, as it were, is to help us avoid clash between our self interest and the inner character of a genuine steward of God’s resources; understand giving as a spiritual stewardship and responsibility; and exclude fleshly mingling of motives when fulfilling that stewardship. Let us bear in mind that Bible imagery of sincere giving is casting our bread on the waters, not for the motive of having it back. A bread cast to waters expands, dissolves and disappears; but of course, the Bible says we would yet after many days have it back (Ecclesiastes 11:1). Our warning today is against hypocrisy and outward shows not just of almsgiving, but also of all religious duties.


Quote for the Day: "Our religious duties and social responsibility must point to the source of all good, not us.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: O Lord, You are the Giver of all things and above all in giving. Please teach me the way to be more like You in sacrificial giving, in Jesus name. Amen.

With all my love and prayers,


Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),


[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide written for free distribution and edification of churches, homes and individuals. You can be a part of this great and free course through a one-time or recurring donation.

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