“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3)
Jesus is addressing the problem of hypocrisy here. In his days, there were people who were faithful in their religious duties, including financial giving to needy people, but for the wrong motives. They did this “before other people in order to be seen by them” (verse 1). Jesus makes clear that they totally miss the point.
If you “sound a trumpet before you” when you give to the needy, people might value what you are doing and praise you for your generosity. But you “will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (verse 1). The Lord doesn’t want you to check off a list of religious duties and boast about it. He wants you to love Him and to love other people. True, that should result in practical generosity, but this is only a natural result of being saved by God’s generous love. You don’t need to show off; “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (verse 4).
If you give to the needy, what is your motivation for doing so?