Stewardship

Whenever we talk about generosity - celebrating churches, faithful donors, or trends in our Generosity Report - we sometimes hear the question: “Shouldn’t the left hand not know what the right hand is doing?”

We love to hear what people think and it’s a good question. But like so many Bible verses, the true meaning often becomes clearer, and even more powerful, when we read it in context.

The question is based upon what Jesus said in Matthew 6:3–4: “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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

On the surface, this seems to suggest that any form of public giving, or even public celebration of giving, is somehow wrong. But let’s look more closely at what Jesus was addressing.

The heart behind the hands In the Sermon on the Mount, the location of the verses above, Jesus is challenging the religious hypocrisy of his day. He warns against performing righteousness “before other people in order to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1). At the time, it was common for certain individuals to make a public show of their giving, sometimes even having trumpets blown to announce their generosity! This wasn’t about helping the poor; it was about boosting their own spiritual image.

Jesus wasn’t critiquing the act of giving itself. He was shining a light on the motive.

The imagery of the 'left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing' is poetic hyperbole. It’s a way of describing pure-hearted generosity: giving that’s so free from self-interest, it’s almost unconscious. It’s not about never being seen, but about never giving to be seen.

This matters, especially when we talk about generosity in a public context today.

And perhaps Jesus’ words invite each of us to pause and reflect:

Have I ever given to be seen? Have I ever sought credit, maybe subtly, for my generosity?

This isn’t about guilt, but about honesty. Jesus doesn’t shame our instincts; he redirects them. He invites us to let go of performance and give from a place of love, trusting that even when no one else sees, he does.

Encouragement, not exhibitionism At Stewardship, we share stories and data about Christian giving because we believe generosity is contagious. In fact, Hebrews 10:24 urges us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” We’re not trumpeting achievements to impress, we’re offering a window into how God is moving through his people. And one of the key findings of our latest report is that people who talk about their giving are even more generous.

The Generosity Report is not a scoreboard. It’s a snapshot of a shared journey: one where the UK Church is responding to need, resourcing mission, and showing love through giving. In a culture often marked by fear and scarcity, these stats and the stories behind them bring hope.

Yes, there is a tension. We must always be cautious of pride and performance. But equally, we’re called to encourage one another, to testify to what God is doing and how he’s using his people. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul openly praises the generosity of the Macedonian churches and the believers in Corinth. Not to shame or compare, but to inspire.

Paul says in verse 2: “Your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.”

Celebrating generosity, when done with humility, can be a form of worship. It’s a way of saying, 'Look what God is doing through ordinary people who are willing to give.'

Sharing stories with integrity At Stewardship, we are deeply mindful of how we communicate. We aim to honour the givers and the recipients, and above all, glorify God. We don’t share numbers or testimonies for applause, we share them to build faith, grow trust, and encourage participation in God’s work.

When we publish the Generosity Report, it’s not to say, “Look how great we are.” It’s to say, “Here’s what the Church is doing together. Here’s the quiet, consistent work of thousands of believers, churches, and charities serving faithfully.”

Most of this giving is hidden. Most donors are unseen. Most acts of kindness are never documented. But occasionally, we bring some of it to light - not to break Jesus’ command, but to fulfil another one: to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 - that’s from the very same Sermon on the Mount section as the verses we opened with).

We want to tell stories that spark imagination. That remind people that their giving matters. That reinforce the truth that generosity is not just about money - it’s about trust, obedience and love.

A quiet revolution Ultimately, the left-hand/right-hand metaphor is about posture. Do we give with a desire for recognition, or a desire to bless? Are we building platforms for ourselves, or channels for God’s provision?

As a Christian community, we need both the unseen givers and the shared testimonies. We need secret service and shared encouragement. One fuels humility; the other fuels hope.

So, when we talk about generosity publicly, we do so with care. We want to steward these stories well, because they don’t belong to us. They’re God’s stories, and your stories. And they speak of a quiet revolution happening all around us, a people learning to give not for praise, but from love.

Thank you for being part of that.