Don’t Give to Be Seen
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven." - Matthew 6:1
Jesus warns His followers about something that can quietly creep into our hearts. It is the temptation to do the right thing for the wrong reason. The Pharisees of His day were experts at this. They prayed, gave, and fasted in ways that were meant to draw attention to themselves. On the outside, it looked holy. On the inside, it was hollow. Jesus said that when our motive is to be noticed by people, we have already received our reward. The applause of others may feel good for a moment, but it carries no eternal value.
When you give, serve, or do something good, what is the “why” behind it? Is it to bring glory to God, or is it to get the approval of people? This is an uncomfortable question, but one we must ask ourselves honestly. God cares more about the heart than the hand. He is not impressed by public displays of righteousness if the motive is self-promotion rather than worship. The Lord sees not only what we do, but why we do it.
Jesus’ words invite us into a quieter, deeper way of living. He tells us to practice righteousness in secret, trusting that our Father in heaven sees and rewards what is done for Him alone. This is not about hiding your faith. It is about making sure your faith is authentic. When you give in secret, your heart learns to give for God’s glory rather than human recognition. When you pray in secret, you learn to pray for intimacy with God rather than applause from people.
Today, ask yourself, would I still do this act of service or generosity if nobody knew about it? Would I still give if there was no recognition attached? Those are the questions that refine our motives. When your giving and serving flow from a pure heart, God promises His reward is waiting, and His reward is always greater than the praise of people.
Jesus warns His followers about something that can quietly creep into our hearts. It is the temptation to do the right thing for the wrong reason. The Pharisees of His day were experts at this. They prayed, gave, and fasted in ways that were meant to draw attention to themselves. On the outside, it looked holy. On the inside, it was hollow. Jesus said that when our motive is to be noticed by people, we have already received our reward. The applause of others may feel good for a moment, but it carries no eternal value.
When you give, serve, or do something good, what is the “why” behind it? Is it to bring glory to God, or is it to get the approval of people? This is an uncomfortable question, but one we must ask ourselves honestly. God cares more about the heart than the hand. He is not impressed by public displays of righteousness if the motive is self-promotion rather than worship. The Lord sees not only what we do, but why we do it.
Jesus’ words invite us into a quieter, deeper way of living. He tells us to practice righteousness in secret, trusting that our Father in heaven sees and rewards what is done for Him alone. This is not about hiding your faith. It is about making sure your faith is authentic. When you give in secret, your heart learns to give for God’s glory rather than human recognition. When you pray in secret, you learn to pray for intimacy with God rather than applause from people.
Today, ask yourself, would I still do this act of service or generosity if nobody knew about it? Would I still give if there was no recognition attached? Those are the questions that refine our motives. When your giving and serving flow from a pure heart, God promises His reward is waiting, and His reward is always greater than the praise of people.
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