TWO REWARDS
Matthew 6:16-18 NKJV
16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Jesus is delivering His Sermon on the Mount. He is giving a discourse on many topics, including the reward system of God’s Kingdom. Jesus revealed that there are two rewards available to those serving God. One reward is from men; the other reward is from God.
That last statement was not a misprint. There are two rewards available for those serving God: from men or from God. But if someone is serving God wouldn’t their reward come from God? According to Jesus there is more here than meets the eye.
Jesus emphasized that there are different aspects of serving God that should be done in secret. He spoke of prayer, fasting, and giving. In our verses for today, Jesus is speaking of fasting. Fasting is a time where we deny our fleshly desires typically in the area of food. We looked last week at Jesus in the wilderness where He fasted food for forty days. And as an aside, forty days is not recommended for us today. The New Testament gives no particular timeline, but if you choose to fast, start with skipping a meal or fasting for a day. The purpose of fasting is so that you can spend extra time in fellowship with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading. Fasting is not a marker to show how spiritual you are. Fasting does not change God. And others do not need to know you are fasting unless you are being polite in your reasons for not eating.
The Pharisees had turned fasting into big show. They walked around with a sad hangdog look on their face. A look of pain and sacrifice permeated their very being. People would look at them and immediately know they are fasting. They are paying the price. They are sacrificing in their service for the Lord. The hypocrites fasted to let everyone know what spiritual people they were. And because their motive was to be seen of people, their reward was just that. They were seen of people.
And Jesus was not a fan. Jesus was a proponent of fasting to be seen by God only. Even when He fasted forty days He was in the wilderness where no one could see Him. If you are doing it for God, then it does not matter if others see you. If you give, pray, or fast only to be seen by people, your visibility to them is your only reward. But if you are giving, praying, and fasting to honor God and no one else knows what you are doing, then God sees and God rewards. Only God can see what is done in secret, good and bad, and He rewards only the good.
APPLICATION
The important question we must ask ourselves is, “Who are we doing this for?” If we are doing it for man, it better be good and enjoy the attention because that is all we’ll get.
If we are giving, praying, fasting, and serving for the Lord, then He is the One who sees and rewards. The argument arises that our giving is recorded for tax purposes. And if we serve in the church or at a non-profit in order to help people, we become visible. In those areas, we must make sure we are in the right place in our hearts. What is our motive? To be seen of others or to honor God and help expand His kingdom.
Jesus said where our heart is there is our treasure also. I believe it’s fair to say, where our heart is, there is our reward.
PRAYER
Lord, I do what I do for You alone. If people see and take notice, or pass me by, I am not concerned. What I do, I do for You alone!