Choose Your Reward
Matthew 6:1-18
Everyone is looking for a good deal. In the physical realm, we want the biggest return for the smallest investment, whether we’re talking anything from finances to getting into shape. In the spiritual realm, we want the biggest reward for the least sacrifice, whether we’re talking about anything from public admiration to divine approval.
In Matthew 6, Jesus made truth declarations within a few verses regarding three “acts of righteousness,” specifically: giving to the needy, praying, and fasting. In the culture of the day, people tried to gain respect and admiration within their community by doing these things publicly. Giving to the poor might be accompanied by the blowing of a trumpet to call attention to the act. Praying might be done in a loud voice on a public thoroughfare to make sure that as many people as possible might hear. Fasting might be displayed by neglect of personal hygiene and faces contorted with feigned pain.
Jesus addressed each of these common approaches to spiritual exercise with a statement underscored with the words. “I tell you the truth.” About the trumpet-blowing almsgivers, He said, “I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
About the hypocritical public pray-ers, He said, “I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
About the sad-faced fasters, He said, “I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
While none of these practices are common today, they all have their cultural equivalents. In this declaration of truth, Jesus’ point was to distinguish spiritual exercise intended to win the praise of people from that which is intended to please God. Each kind of activity would be rewarded exactly as the one doing the action hoped. Those showing off publicly would be rewarded with the admiration of on-lookers. Those quietly doing good, motivated by the love of God, would be rewarded by God. I think each would be dissatisfied with the reward obtained by the other and I’m challenged to think about my own reasons for doing what I do.
