Behavior Charts and Incentives

 

[Jesus said] “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. “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. 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.” (Matthew 6:1-4 ESV).

 

This week or next most schools are beginning to receive students and begin the year. At various grade levels and classrooms some teachers will employ an incentive-based system encouraging good behavior. All of these are effective tools; however, this is not the way God desires us to behave spiritually. We do not get a star beside our name for doing what should be typical Christ-like behavior. It is the next principle Jesus teaches to the multitudes gathered for what we have come to know as the Sermon on the Mount.

 

Of course, we all like to be recognized for doing the right thing. Sometimes we do something nice for our spouse, but often it’s because we expect a favor in return. Or we might give money for a worthy cause or praise someone for their work, but then we also tell others so that they will know about it. Sometimes we might also put in an extra effort when certain people are around because we want them to think well of us.

 

This was a rampant problem in the community where Jesus was teaching. The Pharisees and other religious leaders often made a show of their “righteousness,” giving to the poor in visible ways or bragging about their obedience to the law. Such behavior might draw praise or attention from others, but Jesus saw it for what it was. Although these people appeared to be close to God, their motives were selfish, and their hearts were far away from him. Jesus knows how tempting it is to find our worth in the approval of other people. In this passage he challenges us to fight that temptation by realizing the great privilege we have in doing these acts of kindness and generosity. The principle is not that we’ve got to do these things, but that we get to do them! After all, there are no behavior charts in heaven!