"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." vs3-4

The Father will reward us, if we live to serve him. If we seek fame and applause for our religion, then our labor is in vain. Matthew 6:1 - ""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." We have the putrid reward of human praise, perhaps, but we don’t have the joy of a clean conscience that’s given by God.

Let’s forsake these lesser ways, so we can have the true riches. Believe God.

First, the Father will reward us! “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you." We don’t need the praise of men. The Father has something higher than insincerity. The Holy Spirit cleanses us by the gospel, and then we taste God’s peace within, which is past understanding, and no man can give it! 1 Peter 1:22 - "Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly," It is the joy and assurance of doing God’s will; it is fellowship with him in heart felt love that satisfies. 1 John 3:19 - "By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;" This isn’t the dung of human praise; it leaves no stench and no regret. It will lead us into eternal Paradise, after we’ve served him on earth. It is the reward of serving God, and like Goliath’s sword, there is none like it. It is the deepest satisfaction and the highest good to your neighbor, because Christ works in us rather than Satan.

Seek this reward, and believe in it. Believe there’s something higher than the flesh, and be corrected. Confess your sins, come to God, and tell him, “I’m a self-seeking sinner, and I can’t help it. Only you can change me.” He will show you the gospel - how Christ died for your sins - and he will confirm that he did everything - that you stand entirely by grace, and every comfort to your soul is God given through the gospel! We have not graduated to merit: the same gospel that first thrilled us still has power to make us love God and love people, as it is received by faith.

Secondly, this reward is for people who want others to see God! Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." We are not interested in praise. We have a higher thrill, and we know that God is worthy. Our redemption is real, and we see Him who is invisible. We don’t practice atheism while we preach! We blast no trumpet for our deeds. 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." We DO NOT want to be seen by people, because we are unworthy! We’re the vilest scum that’s ever lived, and we have obtained mercy. We did nothing, deserve nothing, and God is everything. Psalm 145:3 - "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."

We give, so people can see the Giver. We are kind because of God’s kindness, and seek no praise or applause. God reveals himself in our sincerity, which others can feel. Our religion is real, and you must be like this, because you can have it. God is so gracious to make us serve him for real, so that he can reward us as promised. Believe in this reward and point others to him: then, your joy will be full.

Thirdly, if we’ve lived for ourselves, then it is not too late. Christ is not teaching to condemn us! He wants us to feel the weight of sin, so we can repent. He stings us and drives it home, so he can turn us to himself. Matthew 5:4 - ""Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." He must convince us that our ways are vain, so we can have the true riches. He strips us so that he can clothe us, and he wounds so that he can heal. Isaiah 61:3 - "to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

Receive the instruction and the rebuke. Clean up your heart. No longer seek applause for anything spiritual. Keep in mind, daily, that the Father is worthy. Go to him by the gospel, and say, “Make my heart alive, so I can praise you. Let me see Christ, so I can serve.” He will faithfully do it, because he is merciful, and then he’ll give the high rewards that unbelief cannot experience. He’ll give us beauty for ashes, gold for manure, and blessed assurance where we had emptiness. He will prove himself a faithful God to enable us to serve him, and then to reward the service. Trust him for this, and live… truly live… not the fake stuff of seeking applause, seeking approval, and seeking position in the church.