Selfie Saint

ME

— “Let me ask you a question. If you do something good and nobody knows about it, did it really happen?

Now most of us would immediately say, ‘Of course it did.’ But if we’re honest, we live in a world that often says the opposite. We take pictures of our meals before we eat them. We post our vacations while we’re on them. We share our accomplishments, our milestones, our workouts, and sometimes even our acts of kindness.

In fact, there are entire social media accounts dedicated to showing people helping others. Sometimes those posts inspire people. Sometimes they raise awareness. But sometimes they leave us wondering, ‘Were they helping that person, or were they helping their image?’

Jesus is going to address that question. Not because He wants us to stop doing good, but because He wants us to examine our hearts. In this text, Jesus is not asking, ‘Are you practicing mercy?’ He is asking, ‘Who are you practicing mercy for?’”

This first passage in Matthew 6 will challenge us to beware of becoming a SELFIE SAINT - “The selfie has become one of the defining symbols of our generation.

A selfie says, ‘Look at me. Notice me. Pay attention to me.’

Now there’s nothing inherently wrong with taking a selfie. But Jesus warns us that there is a spiritual version of a selfie. It happens when our worship becomes a selfie. When our giving becomes a selfie. When our service becomes a selfie. When our acts of mercy become less about helping others and more about being noticed.

In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus warns His disciples about becoming what we might call ‘Selfie Saints’ people who do the right things for the wrong audience.”

GOD

CONTEXT - Matthew 5:20 “20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 6:1 “1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

Explain this verse and the upcoming chapter.

Matthew 6:2 “2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”

Explained

“When you give to the needy”

eleos - mercy / compassion.

Same greek root is in Matthew 5:7 “7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Mercy and grace are very similar but they are distinct from each other. How i have remembered this is…

Grace GIVES blessings

Mercy relieves burdens

This mercy can range from giving of material goods to providing forgiveness for someone.

Don’t be like the hypocrites -

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 How Not to Give (Matthew 6:2–4)

J. J. Wettstein, the eighteenth-century Swiss New Testament scholar, describes an ancient custom: ‘In the east water is so scarce that sometimes it had to be bought. When a man wanted to do a good act, and to bring blessing on his family, he went to a water-carrier with a good voice, and instructed him: “Give the thirsty a drink.” The water-carrier filled his skin and went to the market place. “O thirsty ones,” he cried, “come to drink the offering.” And the giver stood by him and said, “Bless me, who gave you this drink.”

Illustrated

I wonder how often in my life have I posted something righteous deed related so that I could get a like or heart.

A question I often ask myself now is…Why am I posting this?

Applied

Be careful how you offer mercy to those around you. Don’t do it for the public recognition.

Matthew 6:3–4 “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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Explained

Do your giving in secret…

The Gospel according to Matthew a. Almsgiving, 6:1–4

Christian giving is to be marked by self-sacrifice and self-forgetfulness, not by self-congratulation

Common practice for some during the alms giving portion of the synagogue services was to drops the alms behind your back.

YOU

Which reward do you desire? Do you want the recognition from man or do you want the reward from the Father!? Because He can see the secret serving we can do.

— My mistake when I was living in Alabama. I was trying to have everyone be more public with their service. I am not sure why I was encouraging it but i remember afterward one of our faithful and quiet sisters came up to me and said some us don’t care to be out in front trying to serve but just know we are doing what we can to have compassion on those in need.

— I had to realize it doesn’t matter if I know if someone is something. It matters if God knows we are doing something.

WE

Charge the people to change this week.