Hypocrisy when Giving, Praying or Fasting
Read: Matthew 6:1-18
Many people judge their personal relationship with God based on the external things that they do for
God. One person may find security in their service within the church, another may find security in the
fact that they tithe, still another person’s security lies in their consistent prayer life. In Matthew six,
Jesus is teaching that spiritual disciplines aren’t supposed to be done in order to gain the approval
of others, even ourselves and they can’t earn us salvation. Many feel secure in their relationship
with God because of their giving, praying or fasting among other things, but this is not the mark of
true Christianity. True Christianity lives for an audience of ONE; it directs all religious devotion solely
towards God. Yes, spiritual disciplines are good things and we need to strive for them. It is good to
give, fast, pray, serve, etc. But did you know that these disciplines are in most world religions? What
makes Christianity different than other world religions is the God that we do them for. The key is to
look at your heart. Are you busy trying to earn your salvation through the spiritual activities that you
are involved in? Are these activities where you find your security or does your security lie in God’s
grace, love and truth? Why do you give? Why do you pray? Why do you fast? Is it for God? Is
He at the centre of your religious activity? Religious activity is to be directed towards God, not selffulfillment,
not gaining the approval of men and definitely not to earn eternal security. As Christians,
our lives are to bring glory to God, not glory to ourselves. When we do things out of selfish motives,
God does not receive the glory. There is also a difference in the reward that we will receive one
day. The show-off gets his reward on earth through the praise of man and misses the true reward
that comes from the Father in Heaven. As true disciples, we must strive for heavenly rewards and
pleasing our Father in Heaven and resist settling for earthly rewards such as the praise of men.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time praising God for salvation. You do not have to earn it, it is a free gift, given
because of God’s great love and grace!
2. Are you busy trying to earn your salvation through the spiritual activities that you are involved in?
Are these activities where you find your security or does your security lie in God’s grace, love
and truth? Why do you give? Why do you pray? Why do you fast? Is it for God? Is He at the
centre of your religious activity?
3. Spend some time in personal confession and prayer. Ask the Lord to be the centre of your life
and to be your primary motivation for all the spiritual activities you are involved in.
