One thing you notice while driving through the Colorado Rockies is all the Caution and Beware signs. From “WATCH FOR FALLING ROCKS,” to “DEER XING,” there are a lot of signs up to protect drivers from life threatening hazards. Seeing a caution sign while driving is pretty normal but did you know that there are caution signs found in the Bible?
Concerned about our spiritual health Jesus set up a beware signs to protect us from spiritual hazards that we might face in life.
Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1
Jesus wants us to avoid the hazard of doing good to receive honor from men. Whether it is giving to those who are in need, praying to God, or fasting, we ought to make sure our motivation to do these things is godly (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). What motivates us will determine what our reward will be.
Are we motivated to give to receive honor from men? Does our prayer life consist only of those settings in which we will be seen by men? Why do we give, pray, and fast? Are we those who give when nobody is looking? Are we those who give to please and be seen by God? Do we pray to God in private more than we do in public?
Jesus said that it is the hypocrite that does good to be seen by men. The word hypocrite can be traced back to a word, hupokrisis, that had to do with Classical Greek stage playing and an actor that was “acting the part.” Sadly there were some in the first century that were merely “acting the part.” Like an actor, they looked to receive the applause, honor, and audience of men. These individuals received their reward in full (honor from men) and were not to expect any reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1-18).
Christians are called to live differently than the hypocrites. We are called to do good, help men, pray to God, and fast out of the motivation of pleasing and receiving honor from God. Christians are those who do good “in secret” and in public (Matthew 6:3-4).
As you drive through the Colorado Rockies you can’t miss the Danger signs that frequently pop up on the sides of the road. When you open up your Bible to Matthew 6 you will find a Danger sign in the Bible. For our protection, Jesus warns us of the spiritual hazard of hypocrisy.
