A Watching World Wonder Why

* Scriptures taken from Biblegateway.com

Matthew 6:1-18

This is a rather large portion of the sermon on the mount to lump together, especially since there were studies in chapter 5 with as little as two verses. I opted to put these together because they share one common theme. We have the choice to announce our deeds, or to commit them in secret (where the Father sees) and allow Him to reward us openly.

As in all the other parts of the sermon on the mount that we have looked at, we can read Christ's message and instantly know what point He is trying to make. And as in all the other studies, I feel little need to add on to what He said; it really does not need much clarification. So I'd rather take a different angle on this familiar scripture:

Motivation. When I took an acting class, we would joke about the clichéd actor who would ask the director, "What is my motivation?" My professor would explain that, most times, the motivation for a character was his circumstances. Each motion and vocal inflection were a part of his struggle in ascertain a particular goal. I fear that if we were to look inside our hearts and be completely honest with ourselves, we would find that that is, in fact, our Christian walk. We're all actors manipulating circumstances to pursue a goal. This was the sin of the Pharisees. They would use any form of pomp and circumstance to announce their good works. They would pray an elongated dissertation to appear holier than others. They would literally paint their faces white to elicit sympathy and praise from their neighbors so they could "silently" announce their fasting. In this era, such traditions are absurd, but pride has since adorned a three-piece suit. We find more acceptable ways of showcasing our holiness. This devotional is not about condemning the praising and encouraging of one another for our good deeds. But we must ask the question, what is our motivation? Are we sharing our testimonies to inspire others to do likewise, or are we itching for a pat on the back?

If the answer is that you are not sure, then Jesus offers sound advice. Eliminate temptation from the start. Perform good works so covertly that your left hand doesn't know what your right hands is doing [verse 3]. Pray in your "prayer closet", after shutting the door at first [verse 6]. (This is sound advice - apart the humility factor - since in solitude we can be less hesitant to be honest in our confessions and more free to worship however the Spirit may lead.) Fast in a manner that shows you to be strong, not weak, in the flesh [verses 17, 18]. This is, after all, a key concept in fasting - to deny the physical in an effort to focus on edifying the spiritual. A distant relative of mine decided to fight cancer without medicinal therapy. She was a mother of two young children at the time, and it was easy for our church to pity her. But, ironically, as we sat with tears in our eyes, she stood firm, a pillar of strength in the midst of the darkest part of her life. That image of her is forever burned in my head.

Women of God, we are meant to stand firm and shine as lights to this world. How can we do so if we are seeking after the very thing everyone of the world seeks - the approval of others? Would it not be absolutely wonderful if one woman could seek the approval of God first? Would it not be all the more wonderful if a group of say three hundred plus women in a certain Facebook group decided to live up to the title of that very group? What would be the result?

The answer can be found in the lyrics of the Newsboys song Shine, which go:
... The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?" ...

Shine
Make 'em wonder what you got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let 'em see good once again
Let 'em glorify the Lord

I love how this song says that when our hearts start asking, "What's my motivation?" then we can only reach the conclusion that we must "shine before all men" so that they can "see good" and "glorify the Lord." (Does this sound familiar? Matthew 5:16) The good they see can be manifested in quiet acts of service, and these actions can be the most powerful. Quiet acts do not mean we're ignoring the fact that mankind is watching. Rather, we shift our attention to where God alone sees, trusting that He is faithful to reward us openly. And, in the process, we cause the world to wonder why we do what we do the way we do it. We can "make 'em wish they were not on the outside," and wish, instead, to have our motivation.

God bless,
Alisha