Some people do good things because they want to be a “good testimony,” a somewhat valid motive because if people know we’re Christians, we can bring honor or dishonor to Christ’s name by our actions and words. However, recognition of the true character of God will result in a desire to honor him regardless of whether anyone else knows the good we’ve done or are doing.
There were some in Christ’s day who openly practiced good things and yet were condemned by Christ as hypocrites, so he challenged his disciples with the following: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”(Matthew 6:5-6).
We need to pray, and joining others in praise or petition to God can be wonderful fellowship. But if our prayers and actions are done so that others see how good we are, then how good are we, really? The Pharisees received the reward they were seeking which was the attention of others, but they couldn’t deceive God. Neither can we. We may be able to put one over on some people, but God who sees the heart will never be fooled.
Consider Christ’s teaching concerning fasting a few verses later in Matthew 6: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret”(Matthew 6:16-18). Not only did he encourage his disciples to keep their fasting private, but he also told them to purposely hide evidence of their fasting lest their reward be simply the attention of others. Whether you ever fast or not is a private decision, but posting a planned fast on social media certainly doesn’t fit Christ’s guidelines. Verse 18 concludes with the same words as verse 6: “And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Compare a reward from God with the reward of impressing onlookers. No comparison.
When your outside doesn’t match your heart, or when private prayer or worship is performed in view of others, you’re putting more value on what the people around you think of you than what truly honors God. Aim higher.