(Day 26)
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| offering |
Who do you want to impress, people or
God?
This is the question the Lord leads
us to ask ourselves during the Sermon on the Mount.
Up to now, we have read Jesus
encouraging us to practice justice and to do that which is good, even if it is
difficult for us. He also guides us to examine the intentions of the heart.
What is it that motivates our deeds? Do we do what is right to impress others,
or to please God?
(Matthew 6:1) Beware of practicing your
righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you
will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
In the Bible it says that our good
works will be rewarded (Mat. 16:27). Never the less, the Lord doesn’t only
weigh our actions, but also our intentions. If we do works of justice in order
to impress people… our reward will come from them. But if we do them to please
God, He will give us a greater reward and eternal one.
Jesus gives three examples of works
of justice that every believer must practice, yet we must examine our
intentions when we do:
a. When giving an offering:
(Matthew 6:2) 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.
Jesus taught us that the intention of
our heart when we give an offering should not be to be recognized, or even to
feel good about ourselves, it should be to please God.
(Matthew 6:3-4) 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward
you.
b.
When praying:
(Matthew 6:5) And when you pray, you must
not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues
and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to
you, they have received their reward.
The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek
“hupokritēs”, which means: an actor, stage player. Greek actors would
wear masks to represent a different character than their own selves. When
someone prays to be seen, he is not genuine, but “acting” to impress others,
not really wanting to communicate with God.
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| prayer |
Jesus taught us how to pray.
(Matthew 6:6-8) But when you pray, go into
your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your
Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up
empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for
their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.
[Tomorrow we will read more about
what Jesus said concerning prayer]
c.
When fasting:
(Matthew 6:16-18) And when you fast, do not
look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their
fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their
reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your
fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your
Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Now that we are in a period of
fasting, we must consider our intention for this fast.
No doubt, the Lord is pleased when we
do works of justice. Nevertheless, He is not impressed by them. He doesn’t see
our actions alone, he measures our intentions.
(Ephesians 6:5-6) Slaves, obey your earthly
masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not
by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart.
God is more interested in our hearts
than anything else.
(Luke 16:15) And he said to them,
"You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your
hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
PRAYER
Lord, you have called us to do works
of justice and mercy. But you also expect us to do them with the right
motivation. Lord, I want to please you, because you deserve the glory, not me
or anyone else. When I give offerings I want to do it for you. When I pray, I
want to talk to you. When I fast, I want to do it in order to seek your will.
Lord, if there is a wrong intention
in me, please let me see it. You see everything; you know the secrets of my
heart. You know me, you see me, and test my heart toward you. I want to clean
my ways, but also my heart.
Señor,
si en mí hubiera una intención incorrecta, házmelo saber. A Ti no se te
pasa nada por alto, y conoces los secretos del corazón. Tú me conoces, Tú me
ves, y compruebas la actitud de mi corazón para contigo. Quiero limpiar mis
caminos, pero también mi corazón.
Lord, I will do that which is good,
not by the way of eye-service, as a people-pleaser, but as a servant of Christ,
doing your will from my heart.
[Jeremiah 12:3; 11:20; Psalms 44:21; Ephesians
6:6]
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