09-20-20 Little things matter…Do them in Secret!

Scripture  Matthew 6:1-21

The Point: Little things matter – do them in secret.

Drama: “Gather Round, I’m about give, to pray, and to fast!” (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector)

Matthew 6:1-21

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' (going to church – giving a tithe) before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

          2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (They turned in their timesheet and already got paid.) 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

          5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room (storage room or innermost room of your house – sense people then have fewer rooms then we have now – Jesus likely meant this in a metaphorical sense – get to a place within yourself where there is little distraction or the presence of others.), close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (A contemporary application could be to not say you are praying for someone – by words or the praying hands emoji – unless you really are. It is more important to pray for someone than to let everyone on FB know you are praying for that person. If you do it there, for convenience – then actually say a brief prayer instead of just “Praying!”)

          9 "This, then, is how you should pray:

          "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

          14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

          16 "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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.

          19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There is absolutely no need to pour an ocean of water onto a thirsty flower. You can give it half a cupful, that is enough for life and it will play a very important role in its life. 

When you give to the needy – don’t announce it with trumpets

We are all needy? Some are needier than others…explain.

When you pray – don’t do it on the street corners

The 2^nd of 3 rabbinical religious practices. Don’t be like hypocrites who babble – be sincere.

When you fast – don’t disfigure your face

Jesus didn’t know anything about Hope in Action or the Salvation Army or the Red Cross, or Save the Children, or any of the other charitable organizations.  For that matter, he didn’t know anything about Ashland Church and our missions’ program.  But he knew a lot about widows and orphans and beggars and lepers.  He had compassion for those less fortunate, and he taught his disciples to have compassion, as well.  He said, “Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42)

          Jesus tells us not to do righteous acts of giving, praying and fasting to get into heaven -Jesus has already stamped that ticket. Rather, see that the external acts come from the intention of the heart. One author talked about the motive of the heart – that is not what Jesus wants – A motive is a force pushing you – an intention is something that draws you into action. Don’t do it because you should but because you intend to bless that God might be glorified.

          That motive vs. intention is so important when you go back only one chapter Mt 5:16 says:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  This does not contradict what Jesus said in chapter 6, all depends on your intention. Ex. Our church gives school supplies to Jerusalem Elementary and usually few people know about that – when we paint the playground equip we get a pic in the paper so people know Ashland church is involved in their community. Both are to the glory of God – one is better done in secret – one is better done so that others can praise God in heaven.

CONCLUSION

Matt 25:31-46

When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

I was hungry and you fed me,

I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,

I was homeless and you gave me a room,

I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

I was sick and you stopped to visit,

I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me — you did it to me.'

Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because —

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,

I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

I was homeless and you gave me no bed,

I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,

Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'

Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'

He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me — you failed to do it to me.'

Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward.

Challenge this week. What 3 things could you do in the name of Christ to bless someone else in secret this week?