In the Secret

Matthew 6:5-6

Several of Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5 are written in the following formula: "You have heard. . . .But I say . . ." (See Matthew 5:21,27,31,33,38 &48). It's as if he is letting his disciples know, "This is what you think religion is but let me show you something more."

Jesus' teaching on prayer also opens with a formula. This time the formula isn't contrasting teachings but contrasting behavior. It's a formula that he uses for giving to the needy and for presenting one's prayers. The formula looks basically like this: don't go public with your righteousness; publicity stunts thwarts God's capacity to reward you privately. Give quietly. Pray without hype. "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. then your Father, who see what is done in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6:6).

We live in a public age. We're used to reality shows and Facebook. We're used to Oprah and tabloid confessionals. We live in a society that praises openness often to the detriment of privacy and intimacy. Jesus' teaching shows us that there are places best kept secret. In giving and in prayer--we find a place of intimacy. How much I gave this year only matters to God. The knowledge of my places and times of prayer are reserved for Him as well.* I can draw a circle around God and myself. I'm 1 in 7 billion and yet I can meet with Him "in the secret place of the most High" where I "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalms 91:1).

My righteousness isn't about show or flash or attention or even that most basic and often quite natural and healthy need for human approval. My righteousness is about the Father seeing me and knowing me and rewarding me in private. It's about closing the door from the crowd and meeting alone with him.**


*Not that it is a top secret. If anyone wanted to know, I'd share. But there's a certain sweetness to the hiddenness of personal prayer.
**I'm not overlooking the powerful need for group prayer and fellowship, but that is outside the scope of this post.