Self-service,    Matthew 6:1, 5, 7, 16

This post concerns self-service in receiving praise while giving to people with low income, praying, and fasting in public.

Self-serving begins with beware, Matthew 6:1-4. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people… seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father…

… And when you pray, …not …like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they… seen by others. … they have received their reward…

…And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they… heard for their many words…

… And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting… seen by others.

So, Jesus uses beware because Christians need their righteousness to accomplish the proper purpose, Matthew 5:16. “…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father… in heaven.”  Thus, the problem for the child of God concerns motive and desire. Does a person intend God to get glory or themselves?

When exhibiting righteousness in deeds, in prayers, and in fasting, what do we mentally desire? What do we wish to accomplish?

So, let Jesus’ practice guide what we do. He sought not publicity and praise from men despite doing miracles. Matthew 8:4 records His words to a man cleansed of leprosy, “See that you say nothing to anyone,”

Once He prayed all night, but not so that others heard, Luke 6:12. “… he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God…”

Also, Jesus fasted 40 days, Luke 4:2. “…for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days.”

Therefore, although Jesus did mighty deeds such as miracles, prayed long prayers, and fasted a lengthy period, He did none for self-service. His life and deeds were all about glorifying His Father.

I should be the same.

So, what did we learn?

1.For virtuous deeds, our minds should focus on God’s glory, not self.

2.Long times and many words should not characterize our prayers.

3.Privacy, not publicity, should mark our fasting.

For more on the Bible,

click tdroberts.org or https://justchristian.com or https://podcastjustchristian.com

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