“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 6:3-4)

Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent or an undercover spy? Both have appeal as it seems that those who do this must lead glamorous, exciting, adventurous, daring and even dangerous lives with never a dull moment. Well, I have discovered something just as exhilarating and fulfilling as being a secret agent or a spy. It is being a “left hand/right hand” liver of life. This means being an invisible do-gooder. In other words, all good deeds must be done on the “down-low” as we say here, where I live and work.

Living the “left hand/right hand” life is kind of like being a Secret Santa all year long, except without the big reveal at the end. In Secret Santa exchanges, the participants draw names, do something nice secretly for the person whose name they pick, then reveal their identity at the conclusion of the allotted time they were given in which to accomplish their good deed or gift giving on the down low. In the left hand/right hand life, there is no big reveal. That would defeat the whole purpose of doing good deeds in secret. A big reveal would blow my cover, and no secret agent or spy can continue to do their job effectively once their identity is made public and they are known to all. Anonymity is what allows the secret agent or spy to do their job successfully. Similarly, anonymity is essential if I am to live the left hand/right hand life with any degree of success and joy.

Now Jesus says in Matthew, that God, who sees what I do in secret, will reward me for my good deeds done on the down-low. I have no doubt that this is true, but I feel like I’ve already been amply rewarded way out of proportion to any small thing I did. (or did not do as I can neither confirm nor deny anything) Just doing something kind or helpful out of the public eye, with no expectation of thanks or reward, brings me such a rush of joy and satisfaction, which is a reward far greater than any gift or good deed I could ever give or do, it seems to me.

The life of a left hand/right hand undercover do-gooder is filled with intrigue, stealth, planning and execution that requires much skill and perfect timing, in order to carry out one’s mission correctly without getting caught. A left hand/right hand operative must be constantly vigilant, eyes always looking out for anyone who might be the next recipient (in the spy world referred to as the target or the mark) of one’s next top secret, undercover operation.

A left hand/right hand liver of life must be always aware of their surroundings, must engage with those in their spheres of influence, must listen well, have empathy and concern for their targets or marks, be creative in their good deed doing, be able to operate invisibly below the radar and be able to keep a secret – namely the secret of what they have done. Satisfaction is complete only when the mission is accomplished and secrecy has been maintained. Any breach of anonymity compromises the mission and nullifies the reward. How do I know this to be true? Jesus’s instructions are clear –

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

Well, that is definitely clear. I can have a temporary reward here, now, or I can receive an eternal reward in heaven later. Jesus gave these directions to His disciples and to you and to me –

“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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:2)

Announcing what I am doing, is the exact opposite of the undercover life that is the goal of every dedicated left hand/right hand liver. Secrecy and anonymity are the keys to living the left hand/right hand life successfully, and they must be maintained at all times. No trumpets, no big reveals. This is true for my prayer life as well, which makes sense because prayer is the foundation of the left hand/right hand life. Jesus’s instructions regarding prayer are also clear –

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Well, that’s it, dear readers. I have to go now. I have some door closing to do. And then some undercover ops . . . And now I have said too much! (if I said anymore, I would have to kill you) don’t take that personally, that’s just undercover secret agent talk – code for “I can’t let my left hand know what my right hand is doing.” And if I can’t even do that, I surely can’t let you know what I’m up to, now can I? Invisibility and anonymity are my secret weapons and my superpowers – actually they are the weapons/powers of all “left hand/right hand” livers. God gives us those abilities when we’re working for Him.

And in a super cool, ironic twist – although I operate on mission invisibly and anonymously, I am never, ever invisible nor anonymous to my Heavenly Father. He always “knows the way that I take”, He knows every hair on my head, He knows me by name.

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30-31)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

The left hand/right hand life is a life of joy, excitement and fulfillment. It is deeply satisfying. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be one of Your secret agents. I am ready for my next assignment. And I promise to keep it to myself.

sincerely, Grace Day