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Beware!

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” – Matthew 6:1-2

Recently country singing superstar Garth Brooks made the news for suing a hospital to which he had given a substantial gift. His half million dollar donation was, in his understanding, contingent on the hospital naming the new wing after his mother. They didn’t. He sued. The court ordered the hospital to return the money plus another $500,000 to compensate him for the pain and suffering of not having his mother, who died of cancer in 1999, honored with the naming of a hospital wing after her.

I don’t share this story to denigrate Garth Brooks. He truly thought he had arrived at an agreement with hospital executives that his gift would celebrate his mother’s life and honor her memory. And there’s nothing wrong with making a charitable gift for that purpose. There are all sorts of reasons for being charitable. One of those is as an expression of our relationship with God... our righteousness. Jesus cautions us to check our motivation when giving to the needy. If you’re doing it so that people see you being generous, loving, gracious, righteous then don’t pretend you’re doing it for God’s glory.

Here’s the rub, some will err on the side of not doing anything charitable so as not to be seen by anyone. Some will never allow word to get out that they’re involved in helping others. Jesus doesn’t warn us about practicing our righteousness publicly nor does he tell us not to talk to others about the good work we do. What he does say is don’t practice righteousness for the express purpose of being seen by others. In this day and age we call that a photo op. Like when a politician shows up, rolls up his sleeves and lifts a sandbag onto a dike for all the cameras then jumps back on the bus and heads down the road.

Live out (practice) your righteousness in service to others. Help the needy, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, feed the hungry, and house the homeless. Thus glorify the Lord. And if people catch you in the act, that’s okay. And if they don’t, that’s okay, too. That’s not why we practice our righteousness.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, keep my motives pure as I live out the righteousness accomplished for me through your son Jesus Christ. It is my desire to honor you in what I do without regard for the praise of people. Amen.