Devotional on Matthew 6:1-6
Has someone ever done a good deed for you in private?
Years ago, I was eating alone at a restaurant and saw a father sitting with his young son at a nearby table. They were whispering to each other and smiling. Then they paid their bill and left.
Shortly after they left, the waiter approached me and said my bill had been paid for. When I asked who paid it, he wouldn't tell me. But I had a sneaking suspicion about who it was.
In Matthew 6, Jesus continues his Sermon on The Mount with more upside-down ways of living:
"Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." (v. 1-6)
Wait... When we do good deeds, we shouldn't toot our own horn and make a big deal about it? But what's the fun in that?!
As I've thought about this verse, I became genuinely curious about two things: Why does Jesus care that we do good deeds in private? And why is it so hard for us to do?
I think we need to answer the second question to get a clearer answer for the first.
We live in an anxiety-ridden world where we are constantly under the microscope. The latest self-help books may say, "You are enough," but I don't think the world really believes that message. We are judged by what we do, what we achieve, and how much we get done.
I think we are constantly seeking validation from others because we want to know we matter. We want to know that we have what it takes to survive in this world.
For me, my entire mood can shift if I read a review of my books. A positive review can put me on cloud 9. A negative review can send me into a tail-spin of self-doubt.
Living for the praise of others is exhausting. Jesus knows that. And I think that is part of the "why."
What if we saw Jesus' words as an invitation to inner peace?
Jesus knows that, as humans, we get so caught up in proving our worth to other humans. But our ultimate value comes from God. When we give in secret, we are reminded of that.
When we give in secret, our heavenly Father notices. We don't need affirmation or accolades from others. Each time we do a good deed in secret, we get the chance to rest in his love. We are not trying to earn his love or approval because we already have it. Our good deeds are simply an outpouring of his love for us.
Now, this doesn't mean we have to don a mask and cape and sneak around like the Hamburgler when we do good deeds! Earlier in the sermon, Jesus says, "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16).
These seem like conflicting ideas, but they are connected.
As we go out in the world and do good, we don't have to draw attention to ourselves. But people will naturally notice our light shining. They will get a glimpse of God's kingdom.
When that father and son paid for my lunch, they didn't make a big deal about it. But I took notice.
They were shining their light in secret.
And when people do take notice, we can humbly point them to God.
And we can rest in his love. Because while we may never be "enough," he is.
As we begin our day, here are some questions to ponder:
When was the last time someone did a good deed for you? How did it make you feel?
When are you most tempted to impress others with your achievements? In those moments, how can you rest in God's love instead?
How can you be on the lookout to let your light shine in secret today?
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If you enjoyed this devotional, please take a moment to check out my Nobody Left Out series of devotionals. They were written to help ordinary people (like me!) grow in their relationship with Jesus.
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