February 14, 2018 Wednesday

““Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, “that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:1-6 NKJV)

            Why does God command us to give?  After all God doesn’t need our money does He?  Doesn’t God provide all we need and have?  So why does God command us to bring not only our offering but also our gifts?

            Economically it doesn’t make sense that God gives you 100% and then asks you to return 10%.  So if it is not economics what is it?  It is about our need to GIVE!

            Without offering to God and others we become unhappy with what we have and just see what we don’t have.  That is why the more prosperous a people the less happy they often are!  God knows we need to give and we need to trust in God so the command to give is for our good!

            As we return the 10% we make an offering to God.  When the Jewish people made an offering they returned part of what God gave them.  The offering is a reminder of God’s provision and His faithfulness in providing.

            Gifts come in one of two ways.  A gift is a monetary gift beyond the offering we make given out of a joyous heart and a thankful soul!  But a gift is also using the gifts God gives us through the Holy Spirit to strengthen the Body of Jesus.

            Another part of this passage is Jesus teaches us how to pray.  Notice the assumption is that you will pray for how can someone who has received God’s love not want to praise and thank God and seek to know God better?

            Jesus teaches us that prayer is a conversation directly with God.  The Jewish leaders saw prayer as a public ritual that often could be more directed at their “audience”.  Even today some use prayer as just another chance for a sermon for those around them.

            Do you see prayer as an intimate time to converse with God?  Do you see prayer as a time not only to talk with God but also a time to listen?  How important is prayer in your life?

                                                

            On this Valentine’s Day we went to Asbury for Ash Wednesday service and then to Puleos’s for lunch.  Bonnie and I had a good meal and we stayed and talked awhile.  Reminded me of when we were dating and would sit a long time and talk when we ate out together.  It was a very good day.