Who Are You Performing For?

We live in a world where everything seems to be about performance. Social media, workplace accolades, even acts of kindness—there’s often an unspoken question behind it all: Who’s watching me? But in Matthew 6:1–18, Jesus invites us to ask a deeper question: Why do you do what you do?

In this powerful section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to examine our motives when it comes to spiritual practices like giving, praying, and fasting. The issue isn’t whether we do these things—but why we do them. Are we seeking applause from people or connection with God?

Jesus begins by warning, “Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” In a culture where being seen and validated is currency, this cuts deep. He’s not saying we shouldn’t do good works—He’s saying we shouldn’t perform them.

Take giving, for example. In Jesus’ day, people would sometimes make a spectacle out of their generosity. While we may not throw coins into a ram’s horn for dramatic effect today, we still find ways to highlight our good deeds. Jesus flips the script and says, “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” In other words, let generosity become second nature—done in secret, done from the heart.

Prayer, too, isn’t about eloquent speeches or long-winded public displays. Jesus reminds us that the Father already knows what we need before we ask. So the goal isn’t performance—it’s presence. True prayer happens when we shut the door, silence the noise, and speak with God like a child to a loving parent. Jesus offers us a better Wi-Fi metaphor: instead of connecting through the noisy, unsecured “public prayer,” we’re invited to a strong, private connection—one-on-one with the Father.

Then there’s fasting. It’s easy to turn this spiritual discipline into a subtle brag: looking tired and hungry just enough so others know you’re being “super spiritual.” But again, Jesus challenges us to clean ourselves up. Fasting isn’t about impressing others. It’s about realigning our hearts, saying no to our appetites, and yes to God.

At the heart of this message is a profound truth: Your REASON determines your REWARD. If you’re doing it for people, then people are your reward. But if you’re doing it for God, your Heavenly Father who sees what’s done in secret, He promises to reward you in ways this world never could.

So ask yourself: Who are you performing for?

Let’s be people whose lives are shaped not by public applause, but by private devotion. Let’s give, pray, and fast not because we have to, but because we want to—because God has already been so good to us. In the quiet place, away from the spotlight, that’s where transformation happens. That’s where the real reward is found.