How Should We Give?

God has broken my heart for the physically, financially needy.  I cannot walk past a homeless person on the street without experiencing a deep pain and sadness in my heart.  I know that many people can simply say, "No, thanks" or "I'm not interested" as they brush off the person before he or she even had time to ask for anything, but I cannot do the same.  I know that I struggle mightily to love others and see them as God does in many circumstances, but when it comes to the poor and marginalized, for some reason I have a deep sense of compassion.

I am also what you call an instigator.  I love spurring other people to action.  If I fully believe in something and am passionate about it, I recruit others.  It doesn't matter if it is a type of computer, music, toothbrush, or ice cream scoop, if I believe in it, you'll probably know.  When it comes to people less fortunate than me, I want to instigate change and open people's eyes to the needs around them, to somehow show that these people, the "least of these," are God's creation as well, and loved every bit as much as us, no matter what they struggle with or have done.  This leads to a very interesting dilemma.

How can I effectively recruit people?  I tend to lead by action and try to call others to join me in my pursuits.  With supporting people in need, this gets tricky.  I don't normally like to give publically, but the current age of social media has made it so much easier to start campaigns and raise money online.  Also, if I only call people to give but they don't know that I am giving as well, will they actually follow through?  Is it more effective if people first see my sacrifice?  It seems like this is often the case, but then what am I supposed to do when I read this?

"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.  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.  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."   -Jesus, from Matthew 6:1-4