Based on Matthew 6:1-6 (New King James Version)
“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. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 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. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
In this passage, the Lord is dealing with two things that are essential and necessary in the life of every one of His followers. These two things are not optional, if a person truly wants to maintain a relationship with the Lord. To begin to see this, something very basic must be understood. If a person has truly decided to follow Christ, then there must be fruit, there must be a manifestation of God’s work in their life. In other words, as a result of a person submitting to the Lordship of God, there must be a manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their life. It is impossible for them to continue living their life the same as before they made the decision to follow Christ.
The Bible teaches us that there must be fruit, and fruit consists of the following: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. And as a result, each of these things (per se) are made evident through good works. In other words, a person cannot say that they have love, and they don’t do anything for anyone else selflessly. For example, when a person does something good for a loved one, that is nothing special because there is a personal interest in that. But, when a person loves a stranger or their enemy and does good to them just as the Lord commanded, something different is demonstrated in that and especially if it is done without the expectation of receiving something in return (because many people deal with strangers, and even help them, but they have a motive or an interest). That’s why the fruit of the Spirit can only be seen through good works. Moreover, we were given the opportunity for salvation because we were created for good works, as it is written: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. And so, if there are no good works, if there are no actions that demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, then there is no life.
The other issue is that there simply cannot be any selfishness in the life of a Christ follower. It is impossible. And we understand this very clearly through the commandments that the Lord Himself reaffirmed: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. If we understand the explicitness of these commandments, then we can see that nowhere does it say here, “love yourself first”. If a person truly wants to fulfill the will of God, God should be first and the priority over everything. And secondly, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. So then, watching out for our own interests do not have a priority in what the Lord commands. That’s why the ways of the Lord are so contrary to the world’s ways, because the world (over which Satan exercises dominion), says the contrary. They say: “Love yourself. Look for your happiness. Fulfill your desires. Fight for your goals, etc.” Moreover, if the priority of a person is mainly focused on their own wellbeing, they are following more than anything a satanic influence, as we can see in the following passage: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:21-24. And this was one of His Apostles, the one that even acknowledged Jesus as the Christ. This shows us that if we are not careful, anyone can fall and follow a completely deviated path, just as the Word warns us here: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 12:1-12. So, if the warning is written, then the danger exists (“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:22).
And finally, the lord teaches us that we must help real needy people (“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10, and pray. But there is a detail, that these not only be done in secret (this does not imply that you cannot pray in public as some misunderstand. A little bit of common sense is required), but mainly on both points, that everything be done as if God is watching (because He is watching). This is the most important point, and that is why He brings it up in both instances. We should treat the Lord as Who He is, as God, as the One that sees everything, knows everything, weighs everything, and will even judge everything. “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10. So then, are you treating the Lord as who He is? Lord bless! John