One of the huge cultural rules where I have grown up is that you don’t give yourself credit for anything. If you speak about your achievements publicly you can feel the silence in the room as people look down horrified at the thought. We also dislike being publicly or privately credited. We deflect praise, withold praise, or whatever it takes to steer away from any possible way that could make us look good.

You can tell its not my favourite trait!

In fairness, I do like a part of it. We don’t want to be arrogant. That really is a good thing as arrogance is not a godly quality but we’re so scared of it that we go to far the other way and never take any pleasure, thanks or honour in what we’ve done.

We’ve taken this as a biblical thing. We used verses like the ones below in Matthew 6 to justify our stance. The problem is we have taken it out of context. As I was reading it today I saw something that I hope can help.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

The context is really important here just as my culture and context here is. Jesus was referring to a specific group of people that would have been known to the people. People who were known for their public displays to show others how great they were.

He makes it clear that righteousness done in front of others to be seen by them is a no no. The key phrase is ‘to be seen by them.’ This infers that there is an intention by those practising the righteousness to be noticed.

What Jesus is talking about here is a heart issue not a physical one. If you are doing righteousness with a right heart and someone notices it you are not sinning. Its the posture not the practise that’s in question here.

We also know that in Jesus’ culture those giving large gifts would often make a huge song and dance about it to ensure that everyone knew about their generous act. Jesus refers to them as hypocrites clearly implying that what they were doing was contrary to their hearts posture. Once again He is referring to their heart not necessarily their actions.

So what does this mean for me and my culture

Well, unless we are putting on a show to be seen by others or me are a hypocrite I think its ok it someone happens to see a good deed or gives us credit for someone we have done to help another. As long as our heart posture is right the Lord won’t be frustrated with us.

We must be careful of course butlets not be so careful that we push the pendulum to the opposite side!