Embrace the Within no. 136

“Also, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray [publicly] standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.”

Matthew 6:5-6 AMP

There is something about people loudly doing something to draw attention that has always been unsettling to me. Whether it is the loud people in public drawing attention to themselves for personal gain, if it’s the television commercials that are much louder than the other commercials, or the folks that are loudly making a spectacle of themselves to bring change, I am not a fan of the spectacle. I find a lot of that selfish and pointless.

Christ says that those folks that are looking for attention even at the places of worship are being selfish and hypocritical as well. Maybe it isn't always praying loudly BUT it can be any number of things to get us noticed by other image bearers. Again, it is important to focus on my heart when I am doing any of these things.

Why am I being loud? What am I bringing attention to myself? What is the purpose of this spectacle?

So, why am I truly doing good. Is it for an earthly reward? Is it for a heavenly reward? Or is it not for the reward at all?

Worship is not the place for eyes to be centered on me. Worship is a place to come into His presence. If I am serving the church and looking for a plaque or a shout out or a pat on the back, then I am totally missing the point. I don’t serve to get recognition from my peers. I serve God because I am obedient to the Lord. He is in charge and not me.

If my motives are to receive the recognition of my peers, then I need to check my heart and my relationship with Him.

'And when thou prayest, be not as the hypocrites: for they loue to stand, and pray in the Synagogues, and in the corners of the streetes, because they would be seene of men. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their rewarde. But when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy doore, pray vnto thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall rewarde thee openly. '

Matthew 6:5-6 GNV

So what does my heart say about my motivations? I need to spend a lot more time contemplating why I am drawing attention from the Lord and onto me. Is this for my glory? Is this for God’s glory? Is this for attention? Is this for adoration? Is this for thanks? Am I advertising my service to the Lord as a way of getting noticed?

I pray that my service comes from a heart that is aligned with what You want. I pray that I search my heart before bringing attention to my service of the Lord. I pray that my obedient example be one of encouragement to others. I pray that my service inspires more service in all of us as we walk like Christ.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH

Embrace the Within no. 135

“Be [very] careful not to do your [righteousness before men] good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy],so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-4 AMP

BUT if I don’t tell everyone how wonderful I am, how are they going to know? What if I humble brag about what I have done? It’s a fine line between doing things for attention and doing things because they’re right. And that line is drawn in your heart.

So, I don’t know if your fundraiser for that nonprofit is to get attention for yourself or to help the non profit. BUT God knows. He knows because He knows my heart. And I should know my heart as well.

“Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father. So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, [Or “blow your own horn”] like the hypocrites [The Greek word hupokrites is not only used for people with double standards, it actually means “overcritical,” “nitpicking,” “splitting hairs over religious issues”] in the streets and in the marketplace [As translated from Aramaic and Hebrew Matthew. The Greek is “synagogues”]. They’ve already received their reward! But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself [Or “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”. This is a figure of speech for giving with pure motives, not to be seen and applauded by others]. Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly” [As translated from the Aramaic and Hebrew Matthew. Most Greek manuscripts do not include the word openly].

Matthew 6:1-4 TPT

So, why am I truly doing good. Is it for an earthly reward? Is it for a heavenly reward? Or is it not for the reward at all?

I truly hate when people thank me for doing the right thing. When I do the right thing, I don’t want thanks in return. I want my good example to be motivation for you to do the right thing as well.

I am not out looking for some sort of cosmic payback. I am not treating God like a child bringing home a good report card and expecting some reward. I am moving beyond those motivations and into obedience. I do what is right because that is what Christ would do. I do what is right because that is what being obedient to my Father looks like.

'Take heede that ye giue not your almes before men, to be seene of them, or els ye shall haue no reward of your Father which is in heaue. Therefore when thou giuest thine almes, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blowen before thee, as the hypocrites doe in the Synagogues and in the streetes, to be praysed of men. Verely I say vnto you, they haue their rewarde. But when thou doest thine almes, let not thy left hand knowe what thy right hand doeth, That thine almes may be in secret, and thy Father that seeth in secret, hee will rewarde thee openly. '

Matthew 6:1-4 GNV

God is not a karma machine. If I am doing good deeds and expecting that good things are going to happen to me in return, then I am totally missing the point. I don’t give to get in the Kingdom of God. I don’t give money to get more abundance. This isn’t an earthly prosperity doctrine of treating God like a karma machine. He is in charge and not me.

If my motives are to receive a reward, then I need to check my heart and my relationship with Him.

“Beware lest you do your charitable deeds before men that they might praise you; if you do, you will have no reward from your Father Who is in heaven.” Again Yeshua [God is Salvation] said to them: “When you do charitable deeds do not wish to make a proclamation or blow trumpets before you as the hypocrites, who do their charitable deeds in the market places and in the streets in order that men might see them. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward already. But when you do charitable deeds, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing, in order that your gift might be in secret and your Father Who sees hidden things will reward you”.

Matthew 6:1-4 NMV

So what does my heart say about my motivations? I need to spend a lot more time contemplating why I am posting the good I am doing. Is this for my glory? Is this for God’s glory? Is this for attention? Is this for adoration? Is this for thanks? Are you advertising your service to others as a way of getting “thank you”s?

'“Be careful not to parade your acts of tzedakah in front of people in order to be seen by them! If you do, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So, when you do tzedakah , don’t announce it with trumpets to win people’s praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! But you, when you do tzedakah , don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.'

Mattityahu (Mat) 6:1-4

I pray that my charity comes from a heart that is aligned with what You want. I pray that I search my heart before talking about the good I am doing in service of the Lord. I pray that my charitable example be one of encouragement to others. I pray that charity inspires more charity in all of us as we walk like Christ.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH