“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
Growing Dominion, Part 149
“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain” (Prov. 25:14).
The Scriptures have a lot to say about giving and the “advertisement” of giving. Jesus says not to let the right hand know what the left is doing, and so there is a clear temptation and pressure to showboat when it comes to projections of generosity. But the person here has the worst of both worlds. Not only does he boast of the giving, which loses treasure in heaven, but he also fails to follow through and actually give the gift.
In these days of corporate and business advertising, we sometimes wonder about this principle. But the names of local businesses around the local high school outfield should not be considered as ostentatious giving—rather we should think of that kind of thing as modest and subdued advertising, which is a net improvement.