Hidden Faith’s True Reward
Jesus warns us that it’s possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason.
To give. To pray. To fast. To serve. To worship.
And still be wearing a mask.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.”
MATTHEW 6:1
Jesus isn’t condemning visible faith.
He already told us to let our light shine.
He’s confronting faith that is performed for the purpose of being seen.
The question is not:
“Did anyone see me?”
The question is:
“Was being seen the reason I did it?”
The stage is not the problem.
The platform is not the problem.
The microphone is not the problem.
The problem is when the public place becomes where we manufacture what does not exist in the secret place.
A hypocrite, in Jesus’ words, is not just someone who says one thing and does another.
It’s someone playing a role.
A stage actor.
A person whose outer life is no longer telling the truth about their inner life.
That should sober every worship leader.
Because it is possible to sing true words with false motives.
It is possible to lead people into worship while quietly feeding on being noticed.
Jesus calls us back to hidden faith.
Not hidden because we’re ashamed.
Hidden because the soul must learn to be satisfied with God before it can safely stand before people.
“Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
MATTHEW 6:4
The secret place is where God purifies the question:
Would I still worship if no one heard me?
Would I still serve if no one thanked me?
Would I still pray if no one thought I was spiritual?
Would I still obey if it never got posted?
Hidden worship forms the worship leader.
Hidden prayer forms the preacher.
Hidden obedience forms the disciple.
Hidden repentance forms the heart.
The goal is not to have a private life with God and then go put on a public version of ourselves.
The goal is to meet with God in secret until the stage simply becomes the overflow.
The stage should not be where we put on a mask.
It should be where we continue living the life we already live with God when no one is watching.
Because the Father’s reward is not applause.
It’s not reputation.
It’s not being known as gifted, spiritual, deep, or useful.
The Father’s reward is Himself.
So before you lead worship in public,
practice worship in secret.
Before you sing for the room,
sing to the Father.
Before you step onto the stage,
return to the secret place.
What you seek, you will find.
So seek well.
Seek HIM.
“To be known and seen is one of our deepest longings… To combat the unrelenting desire to be seen by others, we are called by Jesus to hiddenness. Once again, the paradox of the kingdom of God is evident. The narrow path of Jesus says that if we want to be strong, we must be weak; if we want to be first, we must be last; if we want to be great, we must be least. It’s the same pattern here: To be truly seen, we must be hidden.”
—Rich Villodas