This may be confusing to read when Jesus just told us to let our good deeds be seen by others. He called this letting our light shine. When you look at the statements between the last chapter and this one, though, there is one small difference: our purpose.
When Jesus told us to let our light shine, he was telling us to do what is right regardless of the circumstances. Overcoming anger, then, and forgiving people will always be letting our light shine. Battling lust, saving sexual intimacy for our marriage partner, and marrying someone of the opposite gender is also letting our light shine. People may not like it. You may even be hated for it. But doing it is fulfilling righteousness and, when you don't waver, you let your light shine.
This chapter, however, is dedicated to discussing things that look good on the surface but can easily become sin. These are examples of ways we can do what is right, but with the wrong intention. In other words, Jesus tells us to let others see our righteousness not show off our righteousness.
"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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-4 NIV)
Notice that each of these sections begin with "so when you." Jesus isn't saying it is wrong to give to the needy. In fact, he assumes you do. Giving to the needy is good. Other teachings in other places reaffirm this over and over. People don't need to know how much you give. In fact, they don't need to know that you give at all. Your right hand doesn't even need to know that your left hand is giving. Go ahead and give. But give in secret. That contains the real reward.
"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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:5-15)
It's not bad to pray. In fact, Jesus expects you to pray. Just don't show off when you pray. Prayer in public is fine. Praying in public to show off your spirituality misses the point. Prayer is about talking with God. It's about getting on the same page with God. It's about aligning yourself to God, not the other way around.
The model prayer, which we often call "The Lord's Prayer," wasn't meant to be memorized and repeated until we lose all its meaning. It was meant to show us God's prayer priorities. Prayer should remind us that God is God - no one else. It should readjust our priorities to match those of God. Prayer shouldn't be about getting God to do our will. It should be about understanding and following His. Prayer should strengthen our faith in and trust of God. It should drive us to match the character of God asking Him to make us Holy as He is Holy. Prayer should drive us to repentance of our sin, forgiveness of others' sin, and reconciliation with everyone involved. Prayer is good. It's not a show.
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, 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 others 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. (Matthew 6:16-18 NIV)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
You see, walking together with God in this life can be beautiful. Adam and Eve experienced it. Walking with God in this life can be rewarding. Jesus experienced that as well. All in all, though, walking together with God here is only preparation for there. So, we shouldn't hold on to the things here too tightly.
You see, walking together with God in this life can be beautiful. Adam and Eve experienced it. Walking with God in this life can be rewarding. Jesus experienced that as well. All in all, though, walking together with God here is only preparation for there. So, we shouldn't hold on to the things here too tightly.
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:22-34 NIV)
It all starts with our eyes: what we look at. When we look back at something and then look at it again, it begins to draw us in. We are attracted. Eventually we want what we see and are even willing to work for it. It becomes our desire, our passion, and, finally, our obsession. It begins to control us, our decisions, the way we spend our time. Suddenly we need more money to get it, have it, and keep it. It controls our life. It becomes our lord.
When we focus our eyes on Jesus, though, the pattern remains the same. The outcome, however, is completely different. Our home becomes heaven. Our furnishings cannot be purchased with money. Suddenly God's priorities start becoming our priorities. We work more and more for Him. Walking with Him becomes our desire, our passion, and even our obsession. Our lives are filled with faith, hope, and love. Joy and peace begin to fill our minds and our hearts. Jesus becomes our Lord.
How about you? Are you hungry for God? Is your faith something you do to show off to others or is it something you do to draw near to God? Who is your Lord?
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