CHOOSE YOUR REWARD
MATTHEW 6:1-4
MATTHEW 6:1-4 NKJ
6 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
OBSERVATION:
There is a television show that has run for almost 50 years. Let's Make a Deal.
Without going into the complexities of this highly cerebral show, sometimes contestants would be given a choice. Choose a cash gift or what is behind door number one.
I may have confused this show with other games, but you get the point. At some juncture, players would have to choose.
In our passage for today, Jesus shares insight into different religious activities and the rewards that would be generated. He covered good works, prayer, and fasting. We will look at good or charitable works, but the rewards principle applies to all three areas.
When you do good deeds, don't do them to be seen of men. If your motive is to be noticed by other people, then their attention will be your only reward.
And by all means, don't be like the hypocrites sounding a trumpet to announce that they were doing a good deed. The word for hypocrite is also translated pretender. The people are pretending to do good to help their fellow man. Actually, they are only doing good to be glorified and praised by others.
The people who did these things received a reward. The reward was attention and praise from other people. That was ultimately the reward they chose.
But Jesus advocated doing good to be seen only by God. Not calling attention to yourself but secretly helping others. The beautiful thing about this secret service is that God saw what was done. And He is the One who rewards openly.
Jesus applied this principle to fasting and praying. Who you do it for is where your rewards come from. Choose your reward.
APPLICATION:
Why are we doing something? Who are we doing it for?
These are questions we can ask ourselves, and we are the only ones that can answer. We can't judge what is in someone's heart, but we can check our own motives.
It requires more faith to do things that only God can see, but the rewards are so much greater.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I want to do what I do to be seen of You. You are who I am living for.