It’s wonderful to post about God in our social media accounts, or even blog posts. That’s very important and does matter. But what about when no one is looking. When only God sees us and our deeds, whether good or bad. Those moments when we make a choice to not give in to temptation and only the Lord knows. We never boast about it, or brag on the world wide web. It’s just us and the Lord.
In Matthew 6 Jesus talks about giving, praying, and fasting. And those who make a show of these things already received their reward, the praise of men. Yet there will be no reward from the Father.
Giving to the Needy
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Prayer
5 “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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others 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.
Matthew 6:1-18, NIV
When our priority is to honor God, not man, it changes what we do and why. The things done in those moments where we could get away with it and no one would ever know, yet we choose to be obedient, glorify God. Because He sees all, and He knows the motives of our heart.
God knows when we have struggled to forgive someone and we finally forgive from our heart, He is pleased. He knows when we denied ourself and didn’t get angry, when normally we would have. He knows when we don’t give in to our temptations and we walk away. That honors Him. It has nothing to do with impressing someone else. It has everything to do with showing God how much we love Him through our obedience.
And bonus, there are rewards for those who honor God in secret. That shouldn’t be our motivator, but that’s how amazing God is. I honestly don’t know what those rewards are, but they are better than any praise from man, which is temporary. I personally have experienced peace, joy, and freedom when being obedient to God. I believe the rewards are on this side of heaven, and in eternity. God’s rewards are beyond compare.
Help us Lord, to honor You at all times, even when no one is looking.
Love you all,
Meghan
Photo credit: Meghan E. White
Meghan E White 