Pleasing God Or Impressing People?

Pleasing God Or Impressing People?

When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. –Matthew 6:2, 4

A few years ago, Matt was basking in the glow of having the funny lines and amusing costume in the children’s musical at church. Not wanting to leave the party afterward, he said, “This is what it feels like to be a star!”

Let’s just be honest, the admiration of others feels really good, and the applause of others sounds really good. We all want to be admired and applauded, and Jesus understands this. He understands that we are especially tempted to practice our faith and do our good works in a way that will capture the attention of others. That’s why he points specifically to the sacrifice of giving, the practice of prayer, and the discipline of fasting, saying that if the applause of people is what we’re giving for and living for, then we’d better enjoy it thoroughly, because it’s all we can expect to get. But if our motive is to please him, he will reward us fully and eternally.

My former Bible study teacher, Diane Cobb, explained it this way: We have a closet in our hearts—a place where the things done solely for God’s glory are deposited. Over the course of a life sold-out to pleasing God, the shelves become full and glowing. But if the real purpose of our righteous deeds is to impress people, nothing is deposited for us to enjoy in God’s presence on that day when the closet is opened and its contents are revealed. When we rob God of the glory and indulge in it for ourselves, it is devoured and disappears. But when we shun the public applause of people for the private approval of God, we enjoy the secret satisfaction of his pleasure now and the ultimate reward of hearing him one day say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Our reward from people comes from their view of our performance. God’s reward comes from seeing our hearts. Are you seeking his eternal applause or settling for fleeting fame?

Secret Seer, you not only know everything I do, but you see my heart and know my motives. Purify my heart and implant within me a longing to please you that will make me patient for your reward, your “well done.”

DIGGING DEEPER