SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS: FALSE PRETENSES AND FALSE RELIGIOUS PIETY WILL EARN NO REWARDS IN HEAVEN

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Matthew 6:1 NIV

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Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

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God is Watching. The bible is clear that God is actively involved in His creation, working to bring things to their desired end. His eyes are always looking over the earth for those who do good, and seek to honor Him and He is seeking to hear their cry for help. But for the unrighteous, He has prepared a place for them in the eternal lake of fire; His face is against them, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God. (Psalm 34:15-16; Hebrews 10:31). We must examine ourselves, in the same light, the Father uses to search our hearts; He is looking at our motives. Are they motives of unrighteousness, dead works? For our own gain or pleasure, and just looking good outwardly? Or are they motives to glorify His holy name, solely, good works? It would do us well, to truly look at our intentions and repent of any sinful, boastful, lustful or wayward actions on our part. All of our misrepresentations and false justifications with our breathy explanations of innocence in our vein attempts to hide our guilt; it's all filth and rubbish for He sees it all, He is watching. Always looking, and it will not stand before the holiness of His throne or the judgment seat of God. We can try to bury it and cover it up with explanations of how it wasn't that bad, for it's just a matter of misunderstanding, an improper choice of words, or an unaware glace of the eyes, but God can't be mocked, nor can His people who have been trained in righteousness.

Deep Wholesome Spiritual Walk. Paul says a beautiful prayer over the church in Philippi, which is, And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11). One can only say, Amen. In this prayer, Paul is seeking for their knowledge of God, their wisdom, to grow, which will grow their love. With the deeper insights of God, we see the absolute and purest love, which cleanses us of our impurities, so that we can see more clearly. The more we learn, the more our eyes are opened to truth, so we become more discerning as the light is shining brighter within us. We can determine from our own wisdom what is best, pure and right. Then good fruit abounds as we have begun to sow wholesome seeds, producing a harvest of 30, 60 or 100 times what was sown. (Matthew 13:8).

People-Pleasers Are Rewarded in Full. The Lord was clear when He warned us to not seek after human glorification by attention seeking behaviors, or using God for our own glorification. Our Lord said we will receive our reward in full down here, if we do our religious deeds and acts of righteousness to gain the favor of others, as there will be no reward in heaven. (Matthew 6:1). The Lord judges a man's heart and the word can split the intention from the heart, which allows God to know if our actions are designed to bring Him, or you, glory. God will have no part in self-glorification, rejecting all these dead works. He will reject it when we profess to being strong christians with deep rooted beliefs, but we're only seeking earthly approval; if we act as if we're on fire, but really we're lukewarm at best; or if we profess to read the bible daily, but we seldom touch it. None of this pleases God. 

Be Sober-Minded. The Lord says, He would rather you be hot or cold, either really loving Him or hating Him, rather than being lukewarm. It's so detestable to Him that He is about to spit you, the lukewarm one, out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16). Be sober-minded in your self judgment and never speak to highly of yourself (Romans 12:3; Proverbs 3:7), as most of what the Lord hates is found in this very practice. There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. (Psalm 6:16-19). The heart that desires to get the praise of another or one that boasts of a false piety is the heart that devises wicked schemes with the lying tongue and the false self-witness that pours out lies; this is why there is no gain in the kingdom for such filth. Be sober minded and repent. 

Identity in Christ. There is no need to seek the praise or glory of others, when we understand that we have been given the right to be called children of God, when we believe and receive the testimony of the gospel. (John 1:12). What better title or honor could you be given? And this one is earned in our humility, at the base level of esteeming all others higher than ourselves, rather than doing things for our selfish ambition or vein conceit. (Philippians 2:3). You can empty yourself of trying to gain attention, by realizing that you've been made anew, the old is washed away, and now there is no more condemnation in Christ Jesus, and no one can bring a charge against God's elect. Your guilty conscious has been washed. If the devil tries to remind you of your sin, then rebuke him. You are new, receive and believe. A child of God, should be seeking all glory and honor to be given to the Lord, who has supplied all you needs in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19).

Dear heavenly Father, we come to You for our portion, help us to be content with You, and You alone, as our provider, of all our needs and desires, help us to not wonder back into the former way of living but to remain constant in fellowship with you, let Your love pour of us, so we can be content in you and humble in spirit, only showing love and kindness towards each other, and giving You all the glory and honor forevermore. Amen.