The following lesson is taken from Matthew chapter 6. In this chapter Jesus talks about our motives and priorities in life. According to Jesus, it not only matters what we do in life, but why and how we do it. Jesus talks about two false motivators for doing good: praise and wealth.
Praise
Jesus taught the following ways to avoid seeking the praise of others:
- ''When thou doest alms (give to the poor), let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.'' If we sound a trumpet before us or make it known to others, then we have our reward the praise of others. But if we give to others in secret, our Father who sees in secret will reward us openly. (v1-5)
- When we have our personal prayers, we shouldn't stand in front of a bunch of people and make a big issue out of the fact that we are praying. Jesus said we should enter into our closet and when we have shut the door, pray to our Father and he will see and hear us and reward us openly. (v5-6)
- When we pray we should not use vain repetitions, thinking we will be heard for how much we say. We should think about our Father in Heaven when we pray as if he were really there (because He really is). Would we tell a friend the same thing over and over again? Would we call a friend on the phone and repeat the same words and phrases to him/her every day? Neither should we do our Father in Heaven that way. He is our friend, our Father.
- We must forgive others. If we forgive others, then our Heavenly Father will forgive us. But if we refuse to forgive others, then our Father will not forgive us. (v14-15)
- When we fast, we shouldn't disfigure our faces or appear as if we are fasting, but we should groom ourselves well, smile and not appear to be fasting. Again, our Father who sees what we do in secret will reward us openly (v18)
Wealth
In the last half of the chapter, Jesus talks about being motivated by earthly treasures and wealth. He taught, ''Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'' (v20-21)
If we are motivated by the praise of others or by the treasures of the earth, then that is where our heart lies with other people or with the treasures of the world. Jesus says that no one can serve two masters. For he will either hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. We cannot serve God and the world at the same time. In other words we can't sit on the fence with one foot in the world and the other with God.
It's a matter of priorities. We are to seek not the things of this world, but seek to build up the kingdom of God and to establish his righteousness first. (v33) This should be our first priority. This does not mean that we let our families starve or refuse to work. For Paul taught that ''if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.'' (1 Timothy 5:8).
So Jesus is not telling us to quit work and do religious things all the time. He is simply telling us where our heart should lie. There is something miraculous that happens in our lives when we put God first. When we give our whole souls to Him, everything else in our lives will fall into place. When our sole aim is in building the kingdom of God we no longer seek the honors of men. Matter of fact, we care very little whether we're popular or not. All we care about is loving others, doing good to them, and serving the Lord in any way we can. If we seek first the kingdom of God, all these things shall be added unto us. (v33) The natural consequence of righteousness is prosperity. This may not be great wealth or fame, but the Lord provides for those who love him.
Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
They toil not neither do they spin.
And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory
Was not arrayed like one of these
Wherefore if God so clothes
the grass of the field,
Which to day is and
tomorrow is cast into the oven
Shall he not much more clothe you
If you are not of little faith? (v28-30)
Sometimes God chooses to bless us with great wealth. Then what? Are we supposed to feel guilty for that? Certainly not. Again, it's all in where we set our heart. If the Lord sees fit to send us riches, then we should remember who gave them to us, and use them to do good, to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry, to liberate the captive and administer relief to the sick and afflicted. All will be well, if we remain humble, avoid pride and keep our eye on the Lord and building his kingdom upon the earth.
Marnie L. Pehrson is a wife, mother of 6, founder of SheLovesGod.com, and author of both inspirational Christian titles such as 
