“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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.” – Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV)

In this powerful passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against performing acts of charity strictly to obtain the recognition of others.  While we’re certainly called to reach out to those in need, it’s important to do so with pure intentions, and in such a way that God’s glory is the recipient of those Blessings, not our own.