Beware of practicing your righteousness

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV
“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. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …

While God reminds us to be humble, it does not mean that we should not be able to have confidence and some joy when we work really hard, and then we are recognized. It can be very painful when we have a very limited pool of individuals that we want to be proud of us, and we are forever denied that.

Maybe like me, it started with your abusive and overly critical parents. No matter what I did, it was never good enough. This created an overachiever, that became his own worst critic. Even getting dillusional to the point that I could not even be satisfied with anything i have done. Then fast forward you follow the unhealthy pattern and you partner with a critical, and cold spouse. Your children are taught that when you acomplish something, it not only doesnt matter, but it “takes aways from the family” So you are punished or resented for accomplishments.

If we look at it in God’s way, He is equiping us for His purpose! We can have joy in what we achieve, especially if it opens doors to further God’s kingdom or reach individuals that need healing and redemption.

So we cannot let even those that we wish so much, would be proud of us and are not, to steal our joy, and dim our light. Boasting for human reward, or bragging is seeking earthly reward, but wanting those that you hold dear to be proud of you and love you is not. It is a human desire to be accepted and loved, and to make those we love proud of us and happy.

Remember that God gave you the strength to achieve these things, and He will use you and your achievements to serve Him!

Dr. Capps is the OIC (Maj) of Chaplain Services and Chief Psychological Officer of the VDF Chaplain Corps Psychological Resources Program. He also owns and operates Capps Christian Counseling LLC. since 2009. He has faithfully served with the USN, and the Virginia Defense Force. He is responsible for the creation of the VDF Mental Health Initiative, and the standing up of the Psychological Health Resources Program.