10. The command to “Give in secret.”
1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)
11. The command to “Pray in secret.”
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:5-14, NLT)
12. The command to “Fast in secret.”
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-14, NLT)
These three commands build the integrity of our faith. When exercised regularly these disciplines develop the strongest believers. I find it amazing that “fasting” is a highlighted command from Jesus. In today’s culture, giving and praying are still highly emphasized spiritual disciplines. However, “fasting” is avoided. At the surface, the first two (giving and praying) deal with developing our outward faith, where “fasting” deals with developing our inner faith. Jesus refers to this discipline very specifically in another verse which I believe is our call to discipleship in Him and the most difficult discipline to obey. Jesus commands “…, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, NIV)
Secret giving, secret prayer, and secret fasting are disciplines that need to be practiced daily in order to deny ourselves, carry our cross, and be the light Christ commanded us to be. This faith built from consistent, secluded exercise, empowers us to find the lost, give sight, free captives, raise the dead, heal the hurting, move insurmountable obstacles, but most of all — please God.