Just before talking about the common practices of giving, praying, and fasting, Jesus gives his hearers this warning: “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” (Mt 6:1, NIV).
There are at least two things to make note of with that statement.
The first: Jesus understands the practices of giving to those in need, praying to God, and fasting to be our righteousness. Our right way of living is bound up with things like giving, praying, and fasting. As we give, pray, and fast we are living as one who is living in a right relationship with God and those around us. This is good, but Jesus warns his hearers that they ought not do those things in order to be seen by others.
This is the inherent danger of the Christian life. We’re expected to give, pray, and fast, and we’re expected to do so in a world full of people. So we must be on our guard when we are giving, praying, and fasting in public that we’re not doing so in order to get a reaction from others. If that’s what we want, that’s what we’ll get.
The second: Jesus says that if we are giving, praying, and fasting in order that those around us take notice of us, we will have no reward from our Father in heaven. The implication in that statement is clear. There is a reward to be had from us living in a right relationship between us and God and us and the world, but that reward can only come from God or those around us. It’s not a both-and.
If we’re seeking a reward from those around us based on the way we pray, we’ll get it, and that’s all we’ll get. We’ll forfeit the greater reward from God. The reward of our lives having a direct impact on how God is known to those around us.
When we give, pray, and fast, we ought to be doing so to get the reward that only comes from God. This is not selfish. This is humility. This type of righteousness is one that lays itself down, makes itself small in order for God to be made big. In this way of life we can have a hand in God being magnified throughout the world; in his kingdom extending throughout the earth.
This is, of course, what Jesus talked about earlier in Matthew 5 when he said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:14-16, NIV).
Let your light shine through as you live out your righteousness by giving, praying, and fasting, in such a way that as your light shines it does not draw anyone to you, but points them to God. Live as though you’re not the main character in your life, because you’re not. You’re a supporting character that is on the stage for a while and then gone. This is not the same thing as saying you are unimportant. You were made in the image of God—to show him to the world. And you have a reward offered to you through that way of living.
Live for your reward.