Monday 6th May
Read Matthew 6:1
“Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (NIVUK)
One of the dangers of forming habits is that we lose sight of why we do them. They become something we don’t think about doing. As we embark on some ‘habit-forming’ activities over the next six weeks, we will continue to reflect on Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount. We may find in them some equally challenging warnings about the dangers of religious habits, good and useful though they are.
Surely there is no harm in building good habits and doing good? After all, Jesus has just exhorted His followers to ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 5:16) (NIVUK). How can we both do things to be seen by men, and be careful to not do things to be seen by them? The answer lies in the motives. If our temptation is to hide, then we need to shine. If our temptation is to show, then we need to hide. The temptation to show is real and present though.
Jesus begins with a warning, ‘Be careful’ (v1a). Jesus wants those who follow Him to be thoughtful and intentional, to take all due care, with how we go about the good things we plan. The warning is given because the danger lies in our hearts. Having explained that true obedience to the law requires a transformed heart (Matthew 5) Jesus tells us exactly the nature of the evil that lurks there. The temptation to be thought well of.
Should we be discouraged from doing good for fear that our motives are flawed? Not at all. We should be wise to our own deceptive hearts – and do good such that God is glorified. He is glorified when we ‘shine’ before men (Matthew 5:16) and when we do good for no reward.
