Matthew 6 - The Reward of Giving in Secret!
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As Jesus continues to teach on the Sermon on the Mount, he teaches us to be careful not to seek the world's applause when we practice good deeds. He also warns of practicing spiritual disciples in order to bring undue attention to ourselves. Whether it is praying, fasting, or giving to the needy, our focus should be on God not us.
Dallas Willard has written a great book called the "Spirit of the Disciplines", where he explains the true purpose of spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting, or reading God's Word. Importantly, he includes a discipline which we don't talk about very much called "secrecy". He defines secrecy as:
“Consciously refraining from having our good deeds and qualities generally known, which, in turn, rightly disciplines our longing for recognition.”
“Secrecy rightly practiced enables us to place our public relations department entirely in the hands of God, who lit our candles so we could be the light of the world, not so we could hide under a bushel (Matt. 5:14–16). We allow him to decide when our deeds will be known and when our light will be noticed.”
I think there is a natural instinct in all of us to be noticed when we do something for the Lord. We want to be an example of a believer in Christ. Just like when we did something for our parents, we wanted them to say, "Thank you so much for doing this. You did a great job! Mom and dad are very proud of you!"
But Jesus teaches us today that when we practice spiritual disciplines or do the deeds Jesus commanded us to do and do them to garner attention for ourselves, that we have received our reward in full.
"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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." 6:2
"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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." 6:5
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." 6:16
Jesus teaches us to seek, "an audience of One!"
Jesus adds another important promise when we do things in "secret". Jesus says,
"And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." 6:18
What might some of these rewards of secret giving?
1. There is great joy in knowing that you are pleasing your heavenly Father. Receiving a compliment for something you have done is great, but one day we will hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."
2. If you are looking for an affirmation from someone and they don't give it to you, you will be disappointed.
3. If you are focused on other people catching you in the act of praying, fasting, or giving, you miss out on the spiritual benefits of what you are doing. There is a special connection with God when you are praying or fasting. It is sort of like when you are talking to someone but your real focus is on someone else.
Finally, there is something in implicit in the words, "Your father who sees what is done in secret".
This means that God sees everything we do. When we go to pray, He is with us. We fast it helps, we are connected to him in a deeper way. When we give to someone in need Jesus says this,
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25:37-40
As you go about this week, do the things Jesus has taught us to do. Pray, read God's word, and give to those in need. But do it in secret and experience the reward only the Father can give you!
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