006: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.6: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.6: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.6: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.

6: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)

Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…

for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.

6: DOING IT WRONG? (Mat 6:1-8, 16-18)

Have you ever done the RIGHT thing…

for the WRONG reason? Today we discover why the attitude behind the action matters.

Today is a BIG DAY…the day before school starts back. The children are excited. The teachers, administrators, and other workers are excited. AND we are back in a normal routine of schedules & deadlines. So today I thought I’d start with a little light humor.

Here are some pictures of some people who are Doing it Wrong.

Boating, Cat Scan, Car Pooling, Swing, BBQ (They did the WRONG THING), but…

Have you ever done the RIGHT thing for the WRONG reason?

I have caught myself singing during worship only to realize…I’m not really singing to the King. I am thinking about other stuff rather than focusing on God’s graciousness to me. I’m critiquing musicians or the musical style, while others might think I’m humbly calling out to God.

Have YOU ever done something like that? Probably not….it’s probably just me. But just in case you HAVE, knowing that you can’t do anything to change past decisions, Jesus has something to say to our future decisions.

Today Jesus is going to deal with the ATTITUDE behind the ACTION…digging below WHAT we do to WHY we do it.

Right Actions & Right Attitudes

Matthew 6:1–4 (NET) 1 “Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.

Did you know your reward from God is forfeited when you do the right thing for the wrong reason, to be seen by people? There were many listening to Jesus that day that had done just that…there might even be some here today…you’ve likely seen them today…IN THE MIRROR.

2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.

Here Jesus gives an example of doing the right thing - charitable giving, for the wrong reasons, so that people will praise them. Then Jesus uses a funny hyperbole (an exaggeration to make a point) to show what this is like.

Imagine a person blowing a trumpet in front of you, to announce something like this, “Hear ye, hear ye, the gracious & humble ________ (insert your name) approaches to bestow good gifts on the needy.”

Jesus calls these people hypocrites, that is - people who are pretending to be something or be someone they aren’t (this Greek term was used of actors who played multiple roles by putting on multiple masks).

Jesus says they will have their reward - that is - the applause of people - and that’s where it ends. But the one who wants God to reward him/her won’t parade it on the streets or - in our day - post it on social media.

Instead, the followers of Jesus are to show humility, love, and sincerity.

3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Again, this left hand/right hand thing is a hyperbole, an exaggeration to make a point. What’s the point?

Kent Hughes says it well: ”The idea is, not only are we not to tell others of our giving—we are not to make a big deal of it to ourselves.”

It’s then that your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Father: This is an incredible term that we shouldn’t just pass by without pausing. Jesus calls God our Father - Creator, Provider, & Protector - the One who sees all we do and will reward us!

Keep in mind that during the same sermon Jesus had said these words:

Matthew 5:16 (NET) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

It’s not that people never see our good works, or that everything we do for others must be done in the shadows. It’s not whether what we do HAS BEEN SEEN by others, but whether what we do is TO BE SEEN by others. The goal of our good works is so that people give honor to your Father in heaven. So our public actions demonstrate humility, love, and sincerity.

But if we are doing it TO BE SEEN by others, then we’re doing it wrong.

BIG QUESTION: Do I seek the approval of God or the applause of people?

Then Jesus deals with another area that some folks in His day paraded their righteousness to others.

Private Prayer

Matthew 6:5–8 (NET) 5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

Once again, we see the point of the hypocrite’s prayer: so that people can see them. Jesus again says that’s ALL the reward they will get - the applause of people, but not the approval of the Father.

You’ve probably never done anything like that. But I know someone who has.

College Group at my house (19 yrs. old) - One guy would pray for 10-15 minutes with them…and NONE by himself. I found out about it and confronted that guy - the guy I saw in the mirror everyday. I spent more time praying in public that in private and Jesus has a problem with that.

Here’s what Jesus says.

6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

This is not the only place we can pray, nor is Jesus saying we can never pray in public. How do we know this? The early church, led by the apostles of Jesus prayed in public. The difference? Just as before, they were praying seeking the approval of God rather than the applause of people.

Jesus was not condemning public prayer, but prayer for the public.

When we pray we must remember who we are praying to. Then Jesus reminds His audience…and US, of this incredible truth:

7 When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

In our culture, people are less likely to volunteer to pray in public. In fact, many people seem to be scared to pray in public often are afraid of not doing it right, concerned about others will think about them. Still others just don’t know how to pray and somehow think we must pray a certain way, using sacred words and special phrases. We will deal more with that next Sunday as we talk about what is most called “The Lord’s Prayer”.

But whether you are praying in public or in private, you need to know something - you don’t get God’s attention because of your many words said just the right way.

When my children could only say a few words, and came to ask me something, they had my attention. You know WHY? Because they are my children!!!

Your Father knows what you need, so just ask!

You might be quick to lead prayer in public, but do you spend time praying in private?

____________________

How about when things are really serious? Many Americans haven’t practiced the next kind of prayer Jesus talks about, fasting, but Jewish people did. (Fasting is sacrificing time to eat in order to pray; going without food in order to seek God’s Presence & God’s answers.) In fact, while fasting is not commanded in the New Testament, it is certainly never discouraged. Do you have something serious to pray about? Consider taking the time you would eat and spend it instead, spend it in prayer.

Our Pastor Search Team prayed for me. Our Student Pastor Search Team also took some time to pray over our next guy…who GOD BROUGHT!!!! Justin Heslin!

Matthew 6:16–18 (NET) 16 “When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. 17 When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

But when you fast, it should not be obvious to others. Don’t go around talking about hungry you are because you missed a few meals. Don’t make yourself look sick to get pity from others as you tell them about ‘the sacrifice’ you are making to fast. If that’s what you do, then that - other people applauding you - will be your reward.

But if you really want God to respond, then keep your fast a secret. “And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”

Once again, we need to answer the question…

BIG QUESTION: Do I seek the approval of God or the applause of people?

If you seek the applause of people…then you’re doing it wrong.

So…what if you breathed your last at the end of today? Would your Father in heaven give approval of your charitable giving, prayer, & fasting? Or would He simply say, “You got your reward, the applause of people?”

You can’t do anything about the past, but you CAN change directions in the future. Here’s a couple of ways we can make that happen this week…

FEET2FAITH

Walk outside or find a quiet place inside and talk to your Creator. Thank Him & ask Him for what you need.

Ask for an opportunity to serve another & do it with humility, love, & sincerity.

FOR ME

Pray over teachers & school workers.

Remind folks of Prayer Walk 4:30pm starting at Church of God campus.