“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
– Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)
As Jesus-followers, we should be characterized by our giving to and serving of others – because we understand that life isn’t all about us. Giving and serving others is how we can tangibly be the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us. When Jesus calls us to live a life that’s righteous and set apart, of course that would mean we should live in such a way that elevates others above ourselves. Yet, smack-dab in the middle of Jesus’ most famous sermon, Jesus warns us about how we do the things we do for others. So, when it comes to good deeds, it’s critical that we take into account our motivation behind them.
Are our actions toward others being done out of love? Are we doing them to show Jesus to those around us? Are we doing them to meet a need for someone? Or simply just to bless someone?
Yes?
Great! Those are all amazing reasons!
BUT… if our heart is motivated by public recognition, or because it makes us feel good about ourselves, we may be operating out a false kindness where we claim the reward for ourselves. We long for the glory of said good deed, instead of getting out of the way and pointing all things back to Jesus. In the self-promotion saturated culture that we live in, this goes against the grain…
The Message paraphrase words the same verses this way: “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” – Matthew 6:1-4 (MSG)
There’s a beautiful intimacy that is formed when we align ourselves with the will of God, to do the things of God. When we give and serve with the genuine love of Christ at our core, we aren’t looking for a reward… and even so, the One who sees all and knows all, does indeed reward us according to the motivation of our heart.
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