May the mumbling commence!
How well do we practice our faith in the Lord? To answer this question means more than simply examining what we do and do not do. To answer this question means that we must also examine our motives for what we do and do not do. In the midst of his “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus spoke of this examination.
At the beginning of Matthew chapter six, Jesus spoke of giving alms to the poor and needy. Jesus said give without fanfare. Our motive to give should not be to impress other people with our generosity. If that is our motive, we would soon be well rewarded and satisfied (6:2).
But Jesus went even beyond that level of motive. We also should not give with the motive to make ourselves feel better. Jesus said, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (6:3).” When we give to others, it is not to put another mark in our favor.
What is the godly motive to give to the needy? According to Jesus, the godly motive is to bring glory unto the name of the Lord. We are to give as children of our heavenly Father. We are to be only anonymous conduits to the work of the Lord God (6:4).
Then Jesus moved on to teach about prayer. What is a godly motive for prayer? Again, Jesus told his followers to pray without fanfare. If we pray loudly and proudly before others to gain their respect, then we will find ourselves rewarded and satisfied (6:5). Prayer is to be heartfelt and intimate between God and His children (6:6).
Prayer is not to change other peoples’ perceptions of you. Prayer is to change your perceptions of other people. Prayer is to change you. Personal change is the most godly motive and reward for prayer.
Jesus also warned against babbling and the use of many words. These repetitious prayers will not guarantee that we will be heard. God knows what we need even before we ask Him (6:7-8). Our prayer time should have ample time for hearing the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. Silence is better than golden. It is godly.
What should our prayers contain? Jesus gave us a model prayer. Many people know this prayer by heart. It starts with praise of the Lord (6:9). It ruminates on what God’s will is for our lives (6:10). It reminds us to pray for and be content with our daily needs satisfied (6:11). It reminds us of our own debt that we owe to God; so that we might forgive the debt owed us by other people (6:12). In this reminder, we find mercy and grace and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And it returns to the unending process of learning God’s will for our lives (6:13).
Much of this prayer is listening when we really think about the words! And I clearly hear that our relationship with God is bound up with our relationships with our brothers and sisters (6:14). That is a sobering thought!
In the next three verses of Matthew chapter six, Jesus spoke about a spiritual practice that is foreign to many who live in the United States. Jesus spoke about fasting. Many people here in North America would associate fasting in the realm of food with the many fast food restaurants that populate our cities or with microwave ovens. For this reason, I urge you to read this passage from Matthew chapter six:
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Verses 16-18)
Fasting is a practice that cannot have as a motive impressing other people. Fasting is a way of clearing our minds from the physical hungers so that we may more clearly hear and feel the spiritual hungers that God is placing on our hearts. It is about denying ourselves so that we can more fully seek the will of God in our lives. That is the godly motive for fasting.
In fact, as we see the repetition in these words, seeking God’s will for our lives is the godly motive for all spiritual, faith-based practices. It is more than the gold standard. It is the godly standard.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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