Let Your Light Shine...Or Not?

More thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount:

¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." --Matthew 5: 14-16

Jesus clearly states in this teaching, a Christian is to perform good works.  He also clearly states those good works are to be seen by others for the purpose of getting others to notice God.  More than a few times, I have encouraged my congregation to do such things.  More than a few times, I have purposely done good in the midst of my daily routine for just such purposes.  One of the ways we show others our lives are different is by going the extra mile to be compassionate, rigorously pursuing justice, and being morally upright.  In doing so, we set ourselves apart from a society which at times over focuses on only one of these areas.  A Christian embraces all three.

But I find it very interesting that Jesus adds these words in his sermon a few verses later:

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." --Matthew 6: 1-4

Wait a minute Jesus.  Didn't you tell us to let our light shine?  Didn't you tell us to make sure others see our good works?  Isn't giving alms a public display of what the church is called to do?  How can a public food pantry be secret?  How can giving to a beggar be secret?  Aren't we called to do such good works openly?

Well, yes.  But there are two distinct phrases which Jesus uses which sets these two teachings apart.  In the first from Matthew five, Jesus uses these words, "give glory to your Father in heaven."  In Matthew six, this short phrase describes what is going on, "...in order to be seen by them."

In one instance, good works are being performed to give glory to God.  In the other circumstance, good works are being performed so that others may see us.  It's a very fine line, and a very fine distinction.  However, I believe it is a very important one.  It has to do with motivation.  It has to do with the orientation of one's heart.

Toward the very end of his sermon, Jesus says this:

 ¹⁷In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus you will know them by their fruits.  --Matthew 7:17-20

A good tree bears good fruit naturally.  It doesn't do so to impress anyone.  It doesn't do so to get attention.  It doesn't do so because it wants everyone to see that it is good.  It just bears fruit because it is oriented to do so.  Same with a candle.  It shines light because that's what it's made to do.  It can do no differently.  A person whose heart is oriented toward God naturally produces good works.  There is no thought in doing them, they just flow naturally.  There is no calculation about whether or not a work should be done or not.  It simply flows.  Such things radiate from the one who has his or her heart tuned into God and His will.

On the other hand, when a church or individual thinks about performing a good work to get recognition, there might be a problem.  Now, I'm not saying a church shouldn't contemplate good deeds.  Neither am I saying a church shouldn't actively work for good in the world.  But I am saying if a church is doing good to do evangelism or get members or get its name in the papers, then that church isn't doing those works for the right reasons.  In effect, the church/person is saying, "Look at how good I am and the good things I do.  Don't you want to be like me?"

Wrong thought process.  The right process is to do good without thought of return--without thought of recognition--without thought of getting a pat on the back.  For it is not for ourselves that we do good.  It is for the good of God and Him alone.  It is to point to Him as the Author and Perfecter of faith.  It is to point to His goodness and mercy being carried out through our actions. 

Yes, we should indeed do good works publicly, but they should be so natural to us that we don't even think about it.  And folks shouldn't even see us when they see our works.  They should see God.