Should Financial Giving Always Be Kept Secret?

Here is what the Bible says about our financial offerings to the church, “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).”

Now here’s a question: should Christians share with other believers how much they give in their offerings? I think most of us would say no, it’s a personal matter. After all didn’t Jesus say, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly (Matthew 6:1-4).”

Further thinking about this passage may shed new light on it, however. Our Lord is dealing with motives in this passage. The key verse is the first one about doing charitable deeds to be seen by men. So the verses above are not a prohibition against other believers being aware of our good deeds or giving. The command is for us to not do good things just to receive recognition and approval from others. In other words don’t slam dunk your wad of cash into the offering basket.

But there are times when it is good for others to know what someone is giving to the Lord. When the poor widow gave her two mites in the offering, Christ specifically pointed her out and said, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood (Mark 12:43, 44).” The widow’s giving was inspirational to say the least.

In Acts 2:45 we are told that the early Christians “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need (Acts 2:45. See also 4:32-35).” Did other people know who gave what to whom?  Most likely. If you had two prize camels and everyone knew it and then only had one, but Bob who never had a camel now has one, I think people would know what happened and again be inspired by your generosity.

In Acts 4:36, 37 we are told about a man named Barnabas who had lands and sold them and brought the money to the apostles. If Barney was looking for a high five for his gift to the church then his motive was wrong. But it is also clear that it was not wrong for others to know about his gracious gift, because the Bible reveals it.

In order to stir up the Corinthians to get involved in financial giving, the apostle Paul pointed to the very poor Macedonians who dug deep and gave much (2 Corinthians 8: 1-7). And he informs us what inspired the Macedonians: “they first gave themselves to the Lord (v 5).” In the Old Testament, 1 Chronicles 29 declares exactly how much the leaders of the people gave to build the temple. Then Scripture says, “Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD (v 9).”

In the same sermon where our Lord Jesus said not to do our charitable giving just to be seen by men, he also said “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).”

The body of Christ needs to let its light shine both in the church, to motivate other believers and to the world, in order to offer hope. There’s a time when our giving should be seen, acknowledged and honored, but only at the right time and for the right motive, for the good of others and the glory of God.