“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.” .....the Message Bible
In Matthew chapters 5-7, Jesus delivers His most famous sermon of all, The Sermon on the Mount. In it He instructs us how to live a life that is both dedicated and pleasing to God. And in chapter 6, Christ makes very clear the importance of doing the right things for the right reasons. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” (v. 6:1)
We live in a society ruled by social media. Every event of the day is captured by a camera and posted for the world to see. Craving the envy and admiration of others we put on masks of perfection, presenting lives filled with bliss and excitement. Our self worth becomes equated with the amount of likes we get and followers we have. Everything we do is for show, and we look for our value in the opinions of others.
This can happen with our spiritual life as well. If we aren’t careful we may find ourselves following the Lord not out of genuine love and obedience, but to be seen by others as righteous and pious; doing things not for the glory of the Lord, but our own. Jesus calls this hypocrisy and warns that those who look for their value in the opinions of others instead of in Christ, who want to be honored and seen by the world, “have their reward in full”. (v.5)
The perfect example of humility, Jesus never once sought recognition from the world. In John 8:50 He says, “I do not seek my own glory.” Religious practices didn’t impress Him, nor fame, power, or honor interest Him. Everything our Lord did was out of a humble spirit; to glorify and honor the Father. And for those who profess to love Him, He calls to do the same. The good deeds we do are not for bragging rights, but are acts of love and obedience to our Father in heaven. And that includes our prayers. Jesus again tells us not to try and impress the world by filling our supplications with impressive yet meaningless words, but instead gives us the most wonderful and complete prayer of all; The Lord’s Prayer.
In verse 24 Jesus warns, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” We cannot have a heart that seeks both glory through the world and glory through God. Admiration feels good, but it can’t sustain our hearts. Only a close personal relationship with God can do that. In one of William Shakespeare’s most famous poems he writes, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” But God isn’t looking for a cast of characters. He’s looking for people who truly have a desire to serve, love, and worship Him. And to those who forfeit their own glory for the glory of the Lord, Jesus promises, “Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you”! (v. 4)
