Scripture:
Matthew 6:1-4 ESV
[1] “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. [2] “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. [3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Observation:
The Holy Spirit apparently has something for us to learn from the sermon on the mound. It seems we have been here a few times in the last week or so. This is one of the longest times recording that Jesus spoke to a large group of people. The sermon spans over 2 chapters in the bible and covers a wide range of topics, most of which have to do with how to live a life that brings glory to GOD. But here in chapter 6, verse 1, we see Jesus saying…” Beware of practicing your righteousness in front of others, to be seen by them.” This is a very valuable principle, and I can quickly tie it to 2 groups of people that Jesus spoke about in the end times sonorio the group that says…” Didn’t we prophesie in your name? This is a group of people who are looking for their works to open the door to heaven. The other group is a group that says, “When did we feed you when you were hungry? This ground is a group that is doing the right thing just because it’s the right thing. Immediately after the statement about practicing righteousness to be seen, HE tells us that if this is our practice, the pat on the back we got from those we were trying to impress is the only reward we will get. You see, the religious leaders in that time had a common practice they were looking for the approval of those around them. So every time they did something good like giving to the poor or feeding the hungry, they would sound a trumpet. They need to draw attention to themselves so that others will think that they are good people. The label that Jesus placed on them was not that of a religious leader….but that of a hypocrite. You see, their righteousness was not their true character. But they wanted people to think that it was so they would do good things and draw attention to themselves while they were doing them so that others would think it was. The warning from Jesus is that if this is how you are going to go about it, you have received everything you are going to for the good that you have done because your heart was not in it. In the last 2 verses that we are looking at today. We see some very simple instructions from our LORD AND SAVIOR. Instructions to do the right thing just because it’s the right thing. It was not for people to see you doing it, but because there was a need in your heart, and you wanted to meet it. If at all possible, do it where no one can see that it was you. Don’t let others know the good things that you have done.
Application:
Jesus is almost always dealing with the position of our hearts. The question becomes, why do we do the good things that we do? If, in fact, it’s for the approval of those who might see us do it… then our heart is out of position, and we need to rethink things. GOD sees the things done in secret. HE sees the intent of your heart. HE knows what others don’t see. My question to you this morning is … why … why do you do it? Where is your heart when you do? Are you thinking about telling everyone to look at me, or is your heart led to do good because it’s the right thing to do? Now, here is my confusion. When I got saved. I wanted to do well. My life had changed so dramatically, and I didn’t really understand. So, every good thing I was doing, I told everyone I could. That practice became a look at my theology. Look at me and all the good I AM DOING. It didn’t take long for GOD to leave my pride and knock me to my knees. Which is where I should have been, to begin with. You see, GOD had done a great work in me that I was trying to take the credit for. I have, since then, learned that GOD is the one who does the good work, and it’s not about doing anything for people to see. Because it’s just not about me. It never really has been. You see, my life was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. Anything good that happens HE gets the credit for. Because in and of myself. I am just not a good person. HE is everything that is good in me. My point is this. My heart has changed. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m not the man I should be…. but thanks be to GOD that I’m not the man I used to be. My life is not about me it’s about what HE has done in and through me. My desires have changed. I want to do the right thing. Not so that you can see me do it… but simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Prayer:
Father, we love you, and we know that it’s you that has changed our lives. You have done a work on the inside of us that we could not do ourselves, and we are eternally grateful for it. You have changed the desire of our hearts. I don’t think we can thank you enough. We don’t seek man’s approval. But yours, we do not want to do good to be seen or to bring glory to ourselves. We want to do the right thing simply because it’s right. It’s an expression of our love for you. We want our lives to bring you glory. It’s not about us…it’s about what you have done by sending your one and only son to die for us. We are clay in your hands. Help us to remain obedient to you. Never getting comfortable but always pressing forward and asking what’s next. What do you want us to do next? Where do you need us to go next? Our lives are not about us… they are about your kingdom, and as we continue to live that way, that kingdom will grow, and that’s our heart’s desire. we want your kingdom to come. We pray regularly and without reservation. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.