‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever 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 whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21, NRSV)
For whom do you give alms,fast,pray? Why do you do these things?
Is it to boast your own self image?
Look at me and the great things I am doing!
We are human, so we want people to give us accolades. We want the treasure that feeds us and give us the wonderful things in life now!
But Christ tells us to store up our treasures where it can not be taken from us.
We need to watch our motives and not try to stock pile here and make a name for ourselves. Jesus is telling us to hide our giving, fasting and praying not so others don’t know we are doing these things, but so we do not get caught up in the drawing attention to ourselves and miss the point of giving, fasting and praying.
We give, fast and pray to draw closer to God, not for ourselves! We are starting a trek to deeper discipleship and Jesus is helping us with a good GPS!
aSacredRebel 