Momentum Killer: Motives

Chip Ingram calls these Momentum Killers. The first is Motives.

Momentum Killer: Motives

If you were a good Jewish boy or girl there would be 3 things that you would do and not miss. those were give, pray, and fast.

Jesus cuts through the actions and gets to the “heart” behind the action, he looks at our motives.

Matthew 23:5a (CSB)

5 They (Pharisees) do everything to be seen by others:

Giving

Matthew 6:1–4 CSB

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 23:23–24 CSB

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!

Mark 12:41–44 CSB

41 Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. 43 Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had—all she had to live on.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 CSB

7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

How does “how we give” reveal our heart and our motivation?

Prayer:

Matthew 6:5–8 CSB

5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

Does this mean we should never pray in public?

Why was this necessary? What was the issue?

When we pray are we trying to impress man or connect with God?

Jesus gives the Model prayer to give them a guide.

Matthew 6:9–15 CSB

9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Address God - Worship - Honor

Consider God - His plans, His agenda, His will

Consider His Provision

Consider His forgiveness as we too forgive

Consider His Protection

Fasting:

Matthew 6:16–18 CSB

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Notice he says When you fast. Why don’t we fast?

What is the purpose of fasting?

Diagnostic Question: when I give, pray, fast, who am I trying to please?

Blessed are the meek:

What are my motives in giving, praying and fasting?

Are we guilty of external activities to demonstrate our spirituality?

Why do we come to church? What are you here?

What is your motivation for giving, praying or fasting?