Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reason

Today’s reading: Matthew 6, 7, 8, Proverbs 27

Mat. 6:1, 5, 16
1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 16 Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 contain some of the most comprehensive teaching by Jesus the Bible records. It is real foundational truth. In fact Jesus said of this message in 7:24, “whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…”. These sayings that will cause you to build your house on the rock if you do them were specifically what He taught in Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

Actually this is progressive revelation that helps us to grow in Christ. Matthew 5 deals with the sins of young Christians – i.e. lust, anger, vows and oaths. Matthew 6 deals with the sins and challenges of adolescent Christians – worry and greed among other things. Matthew 7 deals with the sins and challenges of mature Christians – judging others and being discretionary about who you share revelation with.

One area Jesus shares in chapter six that each of us must guard our hearts about is doing the right things for the wrong reason. The examples He gives are giving, praying, and fasting. Each of these is a good thing to do, right? In fact they are each spiritual things to do, right? The correct answer to this might surprise you: not always.

What do you mean Pastor Greg? Doesn’t the Bible teach us to give, pray, and fast? Yes, but Jesus is teaching us how to do those things – or rather how not to do those things – so we can build a spiritual house that will not fall in the midst of a storm of life. His answer is real simple. He shares with us here if we do these good and spiritual things for the wrong reason they cease to be good or spiritual.

What could possibly make these things the opposite of what God intended and even detrimental to our spiritual growth? Doing these things to be seen, noticed, or thought well of by men will cause these otherwise good and spiritual exercises to become unfruitful in our lives. It is important then to ask the question, why am I giving, praying, or fasting?

Would I be as willing and obedient if no one ever knew what I gave, heard me pray, or saw me refuse a meal because of a fast I was on? Try doing these things anonymously or in private sometime. It will really test your motive for obedience. I know it has mine.

One thing I need to mention to close out this blog today. Jesus did not condemn public giving, praying, or fasting here. He was simply asking us to monitor our heart motives for why we do these things. It is certainly appropriate to pray publicly at times. It is also appropriate to call a corporate fast in the body. And it is also ok to make a public gift to encourage others to give. The issue is why are you doing it? If it is because you want others to notice how spiritual you are this is the wrong reason.

Doing the right things – giving, praying, and fasting – must be done for the right reason – obedience to God and not to be seen by men.