What is your reputation? Where did that reputation come from? Why is your reputation so important to you? Not important to you?
Matthew 6:1-4
It’s hard to believe, but God cares significantly more about the source of action, then the action itself.
“Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’ Matt. 23:4-7
The desire for titles and public recognition in human life—indeed, in religious life—is quite astonishing.
The bragging and exhibitionism that goes on around the rear end of automobiles, the almost routine puffing of credentials and resumes, and much that passes for normal as part of our “self-esteem” culture, are part of a life with no sense of our standing in the presence of God. Divine Conspiracy
Instead, those who live as children of the kingdom, by contrast, approach life significantly different.
“Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Matt. 23:8-11
We should be deeply concerned about the effects of religious respectability on our faithfulness to God.
What matters most are the intentions of our heart before God.
Matt. 6:1
Jesus is not telling us to hide everything we do, although it maybe appropriate at times. Rather, he is dealing with intent and purpose.
He warns us that if our intent is to receive something from others then we have received our reward and the reward from God will be non-existent.
Jesus teaches that our motivation needs to be in honor and praise of God and not just with our good deeds, but also in everything.
Colossians 3:17-24
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.
Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.
Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master to no end.
Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Hypocrisy
Jesus makes repeated and unmistakable distinctions between our face to the world and our person before God.
Matt. 6:3
Jesus is saying that when a life of serving becomes naturally who you are then there is no acknowledgment of one hand to another because it isn’t out of the character. Ultimately, your deeds are in secret to your consciousness because they are natural on a sub-conscious level. They are absorbed in love of God and those around them. They hardly notice their own deed, and rarely remember it.
Thus, when we are fixed on God he responds to us.
Matt. 6:4
We gain God’s attention and become his creative partner in well doing when he is our focus.
