Treasures In Heaven

"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). What motivates our “acts of righteousness?” Jesus teaches in His sermon that motives matter to God. In fact, Jesus teaches when you do good things (giving, praying, fasting) for the wrong reason (to impress people) not to expect a reward from God. The reward we get from the people we impress is our payment 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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2). Why do you give to the needy? Why do you give to the church? Is your gift a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18)? Or is it merely an attempt to get approval from others? If your gift is for God, He will see and reward. If your gift is trumpeted for all to see with hopes you will be applauded -- savor the applause because you are paid in full. Keeping your left hand ignorant does not mean reaching blindly into your wallet to select your gift. Jesus is using a word image to teach about motives.

"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” (Matthew 6:5). Our prayers are to be conversations with God. Words spoken in prayer are words spoken to the Father in Heaven. Prayer is not to be used as an opportunity to impress people with our spirituality. A prayer deliberately designed to impress others is like a boy boasting to his buddy when he knows a special girl will overhear. Such words may win approval from the girl, but they do little if anything to build a relationship with the buddy.

Jesus says to go into your room and pray. People may not see and be impressed, but God will hear and reward you. Jesus is not forbidding public prayer. Remember, He is preaching about motives – why we say our prayers. Theoretically, one could be in the privacy of his “prayer closet” congratulating himself on his holiness or wondering how others would be impressed if they knew about his private prayer thereby keeping the “letter of the law” while violating the spirit.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16). Your friend speaks the words you have wanted to hear; “You look weak and tired, are you feeling alright?” Your well-rehearsed response flows off your tongue in your most sanctimonious tone: “Yes I’m weak, I’ve been fasting.” What a great opportunity to impress your unsuspecting friend with your acts of holiness. But in reality you might as well have smeared your face with ash as the hypocrites of old did to draw attention to their fasting. You better enjoy the adoration of your concerned friend – because that’s all the reward you get! You are paid in full.

The purpose of fasting is to draw near to God and seek His will, not to broadcast your righteousness to all who will listen. Wash your face, shave, put on your make up, and practice your routine acts of hygiene so as not to draw attention to your acts of righteousness. This does not mean the fast is spoiled if someone finds out. Remember, Jesus is talking about motives. God will know if we are truly fasting for Him.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Questions remain: why do we do our “acts of righteousness?” Are we laying up “treasures on earth” by enjoying the applause of people who see our giving, hear our praying, and feel the pain of our fasting? Are we laying up “treasures in heaven” by dedicating our lives to the glory of God, giving, praying, and fasting for Him? Who are we living for? Whose praise do we want?

May our “acts of righteousness” be for God, from pure motives, to bring Him the glory.

-- Bob Clark

1/13/2004