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Dangers Of Righteousness – Matt. 6
Dangers Of Righteousness – Matt. 6
Doing righteousness (cp. Matt. 6:1) involves not only the doing of that which is right but the doing of it from a correct motive. People can do the right thing from a wrong motive. Jesus gives several illustrations of this very thing in this chapter.
He discusses benevolent giving, prayer, and fasting. He rebuked those who would ‘give’ when they knew it would be “praised by others” (vs. 2). He talks of those who would pray “that they may be seen by others” (vs. 5). He speaks of those who fast in such a way that “their fasting may be seen by others” (vs. 16). All of these were doing something right but their motive was completely wrong. To all of these Jesus said: “Truly, they have received their reward.”
One of the difficulties with all of this is that Jesus also taught us that we are ‘lights unto the world’ and as such we should ‘let your light shine before others, SO THAT they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). This is not a contradiction but a matter of motive. In both cases one is doing it ‘to be seen’. In one case, it is to be praised by others. In the other case, it is that God would be praised.
Some things should be obvious:
· Do what is right WHEN you know that no one else will see it or acknowledge it.
· Do what is right simply because it is right.
· Do what is right KNOWING that God does see.
· Do what is right because your desire is to please God who WANTS you to do right.
The tricky part is the need of transparent honesty in judging your own motives. Being seen and praised by men is heady business. It easily puffs up and corrupts our character. As difficult as this is, we yet are to make sure we examine ourselves, particularly to examine our motives for doing good works.
Hugh DeLong
