On Good Deeds Before Men

Yesterday I wrote about making sure you do not hope in the same things that the worlds hopes in, but, rather, hope in Christ. That is your true apologetic. However, there is something to say about doing some of your hope-filled good deeds privately. "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" Jesus said, (Matthew 6:3). Read John Piper on when and how to do good deeds before men. He concludes:

"The great issue here is our heart. We have all heard people going on and on about how they mean for God to get the glory as they do their public ministry, but it sounded hollow. The very words seemed part of the act. Yet public ministry is inevitable and good. The focus should not be on techniques of self-effacement. The focus should be on our hearts. What do we really crave? Really. Have we been broken by our sin? Are we overflowing with thankfulness for truly all the good we don’t deserve? Do we really stand in awe of Christ? Is his reputation a happy burden to us?"