Sermon on the Mount
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 (ESV)
“Secrets, secrets, are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone,” goes the popular and mostly accurate saying. The catchy rhyme encourages old and young alike to lead open, genuine, and honest lives without the need for secrets. Keeping secrets from others is usually a surefire way of hurting someone’s feelings, with a few notable exceptions such as surprise parties, gifts, and the like.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of one more notable secret that you can keep: the secret of doing good. He doesn’t say that you have to keep your righteous deeds secret, as if you should do them at night to make sure that no one sees. But, He says that if keeping your good deeds secret would prevent you from doing them in the first place, then there is a problem. That problem would be an unhealthy and ungodly fixation on your reputation. If you do good only to be seen as good, then you have sinned against the Lord God with your heart, even while your actions appear godly.
There is forgiveness for this sin in the One who did not seek the praise of men, but sought the praise of God. Jesus’ actions were done openly, honestly, and with a genuine heart. He lived not to be praised by the crowds, but to receive honor from His Father. The Father bestowed honor on His Son by declaring the words, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Your Father in heaven knows of your deeds as well. His silent praise and approval are all that you need. So go ahead and keep the good secret of your good deeds.
Father, let me never seek the praise of men, but only the praise and honor from You that in turn glorifies You as the One who makes my good deeds possible in the first place. In Jesus name, Amen.