Beware: Are You Practicing Your Faith for God or for Others?

Jesus gives a clear warning in the Sermon on the Mount that cuts right to the heart of why we do what we do in our faith. The word "beware" is not casual. It carries real weight, and understanding what Jesus means can change the way you pray, give, and fast forever.

What Does Jesus Mean by "Beware of Practicing Your Righteousness"?

In Matthew 6:1, Jesus says, "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." (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

Jesus is not warning against religious activity itself. He is warning against the motive behind it. The question He is asking is simple: who are you doing this for?

He identifies a pattern that leads to forfeiting the reward God wants to give. When we engage in religious practices to be noticed, praised, or admired by others, we trade a lasting spiritual reward for a temporary one.

What Is a Hypocrite, and Why Does Jesus Use That Word?

Jesus uses the word "hypocrite" in each of the three examples He gives. The word comes from the ancient theater world, where actors wore masks to represent characters other than themselves. A hypocrite is someone pretending to be something they are not.

When we perform religious activity to impress others, we are doing exactly that. We are wearing a mask. We are representing a version of ourselves that is not authentic before God.

Three Religious Practices Jesus Addresses

Jesus walks through three specific areas of religious life. In each one, He follows the same pattern: He tells us what not to do, what we should do instead, and what reward comes from doing it the right way.

1. Giving to the Poor

Jesus says in Matthew 6:2, "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 6:2, ESV)

In Jesus' day, some people would literally have a trumpet sounded when they gave money at the temple, drawing attention to their generosity. Jesus says that kind of giving has already received its full reward: the praise of people.

Instead, He says in Matthew 6:3-4, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:3-4, ESV)

Giving this way means you are not even dwelling on how generous you are. It flows from obedience and love, not from a desire for recognition. The reward is that you become an extension of who God is. He is the ultimate provider, and when you meet the needs of others, you reflect His character.

2. Prayer

Jesus warns against praying in a way that is designed to be seen. He says in Matthew 6:5, "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." (Matthew 6:5, ESV)

This is not a warning against public prayer. It is a warning about personal, private prayer being turned into a performance. Some people would conduct what should have been a private conversation with God in a way that made sure others noticed.

Jesus gives the alternative in Matthew 6:6: "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 6:6, ESV)

The reward for private, sincere prayer is a deepening relationship with God. Psalm 27:4 captures this beautifully: "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4, ESV)

Prayer is spending time with God, gazing at who He is. The more honest and consistent you are in that private place, the closer you grow to Him.

3. Fasting

Jesus says in Matthew 6:16, "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." (Matthew 6:16, ESV)

Some people would make themselves look visibly worn down when fasting so that others would notice and admire their sacrifice. Jesus says that is the wrong approach entirely.

His instruction in Matthew 6:17-18 is the opposite: "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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:17-18, ESV)

Fasting serves several purposes. It develops self-discipline. It acknowledges that spiritual needs are greater than physical ones. It creates space to focus on God by redirecting the time normally spent on meals toward prayer and reflection.

If you are new to fasting, start small. Skip one meal. If that goes well, try two. Work up gradually and plan around your schedule so that it does not disrupt your daily responsibilities in a way that draws attention to what you are doing.

Why Do We Seek the Approval of Others in the First Place?

From infancy, we are wired to seek approval. A baby responds to smiling faces and affirmation. Children are taught to seek the approval of their parents, and that is healthy in the early years. But maturity means growing into a person who is secure enough not to need constant affirmation from others.

The same is true in the Christian life. A mature believer shifts from seeking the approval of people to seeking only the approval of God. That is the goal Jesus is pointing us toward.

What Is the Real Reward Jesus Is Talking About?

It is important to be clear about what kind of reward Jesus means. He is not promising a bigger bank account, better health, or easier relationships. The reward He is describing is spiritual. It is a deepening, strengthening relationship with God.

That kind of reward makes it possible to face difficulty in the material world with steadiness and peace. A growing relationship with God is worth more than any earthly recognition.

The Danger of Posting Everything Online

In a world where people post nearly everything on social media, this teaching from Jesus is more relevant than ever. It is possible to give to a food bank, serve in the community, or participate in a mission project and immediately undercut the spiritual reward by posting a selfie about it online.

The principle Jesus lays out is this:

Those things that are developed in secret are the things that develop us spiritually. A strong, private relationship with God is the foundation for any meaningful public expression of faith.

A Principle Worth Remembering

If your religious activity has not been producing much fruit in your life, if prayer feels empty, if giving feels hollow, if serving feels unrewarding, it may be worth asking an honest question about motive. Could it be that the reward is being sought from the wrong source?

God sees what is done in secret. And what He rewards in secret is far greater than anything another person could offer.

Life Application

This week, choose one of the three areas Jesus addresses: giving, prayer, or fasting. Commit to practicing it in secret, with no announcement, no post, and no mention to others. Let it be something that exists only between you and God. If you already have a private prayer time, consider adding a single skipped meal as a fast and use that time to pray instead. If you feel led to give, do it quietly and without drawing attention to it.

The goal is not to check a box. The goal is to shift your motive from seeking the approval of people to seeking the reward that only God can give.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect on this week's challenge:

1. When I give, pray, or fast, am I doing it in a way that I hope others will notice?
2. Have I been settling for the praise of people when God wants to give me something far greater?
3. What would it look like for me to develop a stronger, more consistent private spiritual life this week?
4. Is there an area of my faith where I have been performing for others rather than genuinely seeking God?