It seems we feel the need to show everyone every bit of our lives. This is especially true of anything of a spiritual nature. Whether it be a picture of our Bible and coffee for devotional time or a picture of the food we are taking to a neighbor, we want everyone to know the good deeds we are doing. Be careful with wanting to get noticed. You may get a lot of likes, but that is the only reward you will get in God’s eyes.
Matthew 6:1
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”
Losing Their Reward in Heaven
Jesus didn’t pull any punches in the Sermon on the Mount. It can be argued that these words were meant specifically for the Pharisee’s He spoke them to everyone who was there. The Pharisees were known for their long prayers in the synagogue and for doing all of their good deeds for everyone to see. Jesus came against these multiple times during His time on earth. In their wanting to get noticed, they were losing any reward they were to get in heaven.
The Internal Christian
Matthew 6 is all about the internal Christian. It tells us to give in secret, pray in secret, fast in secret, not to be consumed with possessions, and don’t worry. All of these are internal acts meant to strengthen our faith. If you are going to give, make sure that your left-hand doesn’t know what your right is doing. When you pray, go into your prayer closet alone. Don’t store up treasures here on earth where moth and dust can destroy.
Wanting to Get Noticed
When you do these acts in secret, it means you are performing for an audience of one, Jesus Christ. The depths of joy and peace that comes from doing it this way is incomparable. It may expose your deep desire to be noticed, but when you continue on this path for an extended time, you begin to prefer it. People’s praises are short-lived, but God’s rewards are eternal. Suppress your feelings of wanting to be noticed and practice your righteousness before God.