We live in the age of social media, where we can share anything we’re doing at any moment. And let’s be real, most of us can’t go on a trip, visit a store, or eat a meal without broadcasting it to the masses. Listen, I’m as guilty of it as you are. But sharing everything with everyone isn’t healthy. As Christians, we’re called to use our voices to tell the Good News, not to try and impress others. The spiritual discipline of secrecy means putting the spotlight on God, not ourselves.

Matthew 6:1-4 says,

“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. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

When I was in youth group, I volunteered for everything. VBS, Sunday School, running the slides for worship--if you needed it done, I would raise my hand. But it wasn’t until I got to college and suddenly felt exhausted that I realized I had burned myself out. Why? Because I was doing all of it for the wrong reasons. Yes, I really did believe in the purpose of church activities and I did want to grow closer to God. But really, I was trying to prove to everyone that I was a “good girl” and that I had this whole “being a Christian” thing in the bag.

Here’s the thing about living a righteous life--if you’re doing it for others, you will grow weary and you will burn out. But if you’re doing it for the Lord, you will find rest and satisfaction. Matthew 11:28-30 says,

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

Praying, fasting, reading the Bible--these are the moments when we connect with God. But are we doing these things because of our desire to grow closer to the Lord and share His love with others? Or are we doing it to show how “spiritual” we are?

Did you go on that mission trip just so you could post pictures of you with orphans when you got back home? Are you volunteering at that homeless shelter just so you can put it on your resume? Those things don’t make you a bad person (we’ve all been there), but it’s important to stop and think about the reasons behind them. And it’s not even “churchy” things like mission trips or hosting a Bible study. Are you buying those shoes because you want everyone to know you’re trendy? Are you going to that place because you can’t wait to show people just how cool you are? We have to make sure we aren’t just doing these things for the attention or for the praise.

Colossians 3:23-24 says,

“Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men. Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ.”

Of course, there are times where we want others to rally with us in prayer, guide us through hard times, or help us make good decisions. We all need a trusted group of people to do real life with and be vulnerable. And there is definitely a time and place for sharing and celebrating what God is doing through His people. But like most things, God is concerned with our hearts. So if you’re not sure what’s motivating you, maybe you need to practice the discipline of secrecy. 

Secrecy doesn’t mean you keep everything to yourself. It just means you carefully consider what you do share. What if you committed to not showcasing every trip to the coffee shop on social media? What would happen if you didn’t tell someone about what you did over the weekend? If that makes you break out in sweats, there’s a chance you might be doing those things for the wrong reason. 

Every day I’m tempted to show off for others. Whether it’s at my work, on vacation, or when I’m having a good hair day. I haven’t sworn off social media yet, but I definitely have to catch myself when I’m spending way too much time picking out the perfect photo and it starts to feel like striving. Because I don’t want to just appear like a Christian; I want to actually live like a Christian. 

John 13:35 says,

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

Not by how many pictures you have of your quiet time. Not by the number of followers or likes you have. Not by how many church services you’ve attended, how much you give, or what your resume looks like. How you love others speaks louder than a 1,000 filtered Instagram photos ever could.

If you’re caught in the cycle of comparison or trying to please people, know that you can leave it at the foot of the cross. God sees it all, your best and your worst, and still He loves you enough to give you His Son, Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

Maybe you need to go on a social media fast. Maybe you need to write things in a journal instead of telling everyone. Maybe you just need to unfollow the people that are making you feel like you have to keep hustling to be worthy enough for love. Whatever it looks like for you, remember that you don’t have to impress others, and you definitely don’t have to impress God. May we learn to find contentment in keeping things just between us and the Father.

How can you practice secrecy this week?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbie is a native Mississippian who now calls Nashville, TN home. She works as a writer for Ramsey Solutions and enjoys reading, traveling, laughing, and playing with her corgi, Eudora, in her spare time. You can find more of her writing at abbiewalker.com.