Christopher’s Substack
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Pastor Chris White says to all of you: HELLO MY FRIENDS. May the Lord bless you today.
HOLA MIS AMIGOS. Que el Señor los bendiga.
Ever notice that Jesus has an uncanny ability to step on our toes while smiling kindly at us? In Matthew 6, He addresses not the obvious sinners but the impressively religious. These are people who pray, give, and fast—good things, holy things—but with one fatal flaw: they want others to know all about how awesome they are.
Jesus contrasts two kinds of faithful devotion. On the surface, they look identical. Beneath the surface, they couldn’t be more different.
Two Audiences, Two Rewards
Jesus names the temptation plainly: doing acts of righteousness “to be seen by others.” That phrase alone should make us wince with embarrassment. It’s possible to give generously, pray eloquently, and fast faithfully—and still be doing it for ourselves. The goal shifts subtly from pleasing God to curating an image: holy, committed, spiritual. Even if no one says it out loud, the inner hope is clear—I hope someone notices how awesome I am.
Jesus is saying the motive matters. Public approval is not the aim, nor the reward. Like flowers, the applause of others fades quickly as does the sense of satisfaction.
By contrast, Jesus invites us into a secret life: doing good for the sake of being seen only by God. Not because secrecy is magical, but because God is the only audience that truly matters. He sees what no one else sees—and He rewards in ways no one else can.
Here’s the gut-check question Jesus quietly places before us:
Would I still do this if no one ever found out?
If there were no credit, no recognition, no story to tell later—would I still take the time? Would God alone be enough?
Don’t Sound the Trumpet—Or the Inner Monologue
Jesus’ imagery is wonderfully sharp. “Don’t sound a trumpet when you give,” He says. In other words, don’t announce your generosity like a parade (“and following the Bullwinkle balloon and the Albany High School baton twirlers is generous Bob who just put $17 in the donation box!..) But then He goes further: “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
That’s not just about being seen by other people—it’s about us. Jesus isn’t only warning against outward showmanship; He’s also cautioning against inward self-congratulation. It’s possible to help someone and then replay the moment on a loop: Wow. That was so virtuous! I am a real blessing. I should do this more often! Whether the trumpet is external—or internal, it’s still just tooting your own horn.
Jesus calls us to freedom where we’re not performing for others or curating our own self-image. The act of love becomes simple, almost forgettable. We help because help is needed. We give because God has given. We move on without tallying spiritual points or reflecting on our great spiritual impact.
Prayer Without Performance
Jesus applies the same principle to prayer. He critiques prayer that is designed to impress—long, polished, carefully worded, doctrinally sound and with appropriate humility, as if God were a difficult audience to win over. The assumption beneath that kind of prayer is that the right words, said in the right way, at the right time, will produce the desired results.
Jesus gently dismantles that idea. God already knows what we need before we ask. He knows our hurts, our troubles, our trials—better than we do ourselves. That reality frees us from the exhausting labor of presentation. We are not pitching an idea to our boss. We are talking to our Father.
Prayer, then, is not about verbal excellence but relational closeness. It’s not about the words; it’s about the relationship.
Jesus is not condemning public prayer. Scripture gives us many examples of public, instructive prayers offered at key moments. But those moments are the exception, not the rule of a disciple. The ordinary rhythm of prayer is meant to be quiet, honest, unpolished—just us and God, saying what is real. No flourishes, weird inflections or King James terminology required!
The Quiet Life God Rewards
What ties giving, praying, and fasting together in Matthew 6 is this repeated promise: Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. God’s vision penetrates what human eyes cannot. He sees motives, faithfulness, weariness, and sincerity. He sees the small acts no one applauds. And He delights to meet His children there.
There is a beautiful irony here. When we seek invisibility, we become truly seen.
Putting this into Practice:
- Ask the motive question regularly. Before serving, giving, or speaking, pause and ask: Would I still do this if no one noticed? Let that question refine, not shame, your heart.
- Practice intentional anonymity. Do something kind this week that cannot be traced back to you. No hints. No stories later. Let God alone see it.
- Shorten your prayers. Not because long prayers are wrong (except at the dinner table!), but because simplicity often reveals trust. Say what’s real and then stop.
- Notice the inner trumpet. Pay attention not just to what you show others, but to how much you replay your goodness to yourself. Practice letting good deeds go.
- Trust God with the reward. Release the need for immediate affirmation. Believe that God’s reward—often quiet, often delayed—is better than applause.
The secret life Jesus describes is not smaller. It’s deeper. And in the end, it’s far more satisfying—because it’s lived for the only audience who truly sees and understands.
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