Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18
Jesus
said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
Whom do you go to church for, God or those around you? For
whom do you do good things? As a Christian I serve the Lord. I am his doulos,
his slave. Everything I do I try to do for his glory and not for personal acclamation
or praise. I would prefer that the recipient of my charity never know where
that charity came from, only that God provided.
Jesus tells us that if we do things for selfish reasons we
will obtain a selfish reward. If we do things looking for praise or admiration
from those around us that will be the only reward we get, whether it is given
or not. Those who live to receive praise will end up with nothing but
themselves.
We are called to be agape, sacrificial love. Agape is never
directed inward. Agape is always outward. The way to heaven is through the
giving of self. The way to hell is selfishness. Every sin has love of self at
its center. If we are truly living for the other we do not require praise or
thanksgiving for what we have done. Pleasing the Father through our action is
all that matters to the true Christian.
Do for the other without considering the cost. Do not keep a
tab on your good works. Do not give favor on loan or with interest. Do the good
you are capable of even at personal loss. This is agape. Suffering is the
currency of love. Fill your spiritual bank account to the brim. God find favor
in those who suffer for another’s sake and more so for those who suffer for
him.
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