One Should Do Good to One's Neighbors, If Possible, Secretly
December 6
(The Tale of Three Maidens)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
December 6
(The Tale of Three Maidens)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to do good to our neighbors in secret. He says this: "Take heed that you do not do your almsgiving before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). Those who openly give alms with impure motives, seeking to be praised and extolled, and even rewarded, act contrary to this warning. Those who are free from these impure motives can openly give alms without fear of losing the favor and reward of the Heavenly Father. But woe to the hypocrites, like the Pharisees, vain almsgivers! By receiving rewards from men, they forfeit the right to receive them from God. For their admonition, we believe, it would not be without benefit to hear how the Savior's true followers fulfilled the aforementioned commandment.
During the life of Saint Nicholas, when he was still a priest, there lived in the same city a man who had previously been wealthy but later fell into extreme poverty. This man had three grown daughters. Unable to find the means not only to arrange marriages for them, but even to provide them with food and clothing, he often despaired, and in his despair, he sometimes even considered selling their honor and thereby shamefully earning both his own and their livelihood. Saint Nicholas learned of this family's plight and resolved to help them. He carried out his plan quickly and simply. Rising at midnight and taking with him a bundle of gold, he approached the unfortunate man's house unnoticed, threw the gold into his open window, and hastily departed. The master of the house, awakening in the morning and seeing the gold, at first dismissed it as a fantasy, but when convinced of its reality, he tearfully thanked God for showing him such mercy, and soon gave his eldest daughter in marriage. Seeing the gift put to good use, the Saint decided to arrange for the poor father's second daughter as well, and again came to him at night and secretly left another bundle of gold. Another time, finding the treasure, the man cried out: "Lord, show me Your mercy and show me the Angel or person who delivered me from poverty and evil thoughts! By His mercy, I can now arrange for my second daughter, thus delivering her from the devil's snares and evil perdition." And indeed, he soon arranged for his second daughter as well. After she was given in marriage, he no longer grieved and firmly believed that the Lord would help his third daughter and reveal to him an invisible benefactor. And so, now almost completely happy, he began to spend sleepless nights, hoping to meet such a generous almsgiver. His hope was not disappointed. Saint Nicholas threw gold through his window for the third time, also at night, and, as before, hastened to leave. But the father, overjoyed beyond measure, immediately reached the Saint, fell at his feet, and, shedding tears, began to thank him for such great mercies. What did the Saint reply? He exacted an oath from him to remain silent for the rest of his life about the help he had given him, and, after instructing him on the spiritual benefit, he sent him away in peace.
This is what true, God-pleasing almsgiving should be! Therefore, Christian, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do... But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: for let your alms be done in secret, and your Father, who sees it in secret, will reward you openly (Matthew 6:2-4). Amen.
Source: Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
During the life of Saint Nicholas, when he was still a priest, there lived in the same city a man who had previously been wealthy but later fell into extreme poverty. This man had three grown daughters. Unable to find the means not only to arrange marriages for them, but even to provide them with food and clothing, he often despaired, and in his despair, he sometimes even considered selling their honor and thereby shamefully earning both his own and their livelihood. Saint Nicholas learned of this family's plight and resolved to help them. He carried out his plan quickly and simply. Rising at midnight and taking with him a bundle of gold, he approached the unfortunate man's house unnoticed, threw the gold into his open window, and hastily departed. The master of the house, awakening in the morning and seeing the gold, at first dismissed it as a fantasy, but when convinced of its reality, he tearfully thanked God for showing him such mercy, and soon gave his eldest daughter in marriage. Seeing the gift put to good use, the Saint decided to arrange for the poor father's second daughter as well, and again came to him at night and secretly left another bundle of gold. Another time, finding the treasure, the man cried out: "Lord, show me Your mercy and show me the Angel or person who delivered me from poverty and evil thoughts! By His mercy, I can now arrange for my second daughter, thus delivering her from the devil's snares and evil perdition." And indeed, he soon arranged for his second daughter as well. After she was given in marriage, he no longer grieved and firmly believed that the Lord would help his third daughter and reveal to him an invisible benefactor. And so, now almost completely happy, he began to spend sleepless nights, hoping to meet such a generous almsgiver. His hope was not disappointed. Saint Nicholas threw gold through his window for the third time, also at night, and, as before, hastened to leave. But the father, overjoyed beyond measure, immediately reached the Saint, fell at his feet, and, shedding tears, began to thank him for such great mercies. What did the Saint reply? He exacted an oath from him to remain silent for the rest of his life about the help he had given him, and, after instructing him on the spiritual benefit, he sent him away in peace.
This is what true, God-pleasing almsgiving should be! Therefore, Christian, when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do... But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing: for let your alms be done in secret, and your Father, who sees it in secret, will reward you openly (Matthew 6:2-4). Amen.
Source: Translation by John Sanidopoulos.
