Matthew 6:1-4 Don’t sound the horn!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 4, 2019, Matthew 6:1-4
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
“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. “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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Understanding the Text) This is still the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus gave a framework that leads to searching after righteousness and then Jesus began to define what true righteousness was. Here, Jesus defines the righteousness that we hunger and thirst for as giving to others or doing good deeds for others. He says that when we work for others, we should not be looking for man’s praise or a pat on the back from men. He says true righteousness is from within for intrinsic rewards not for outward extrinsic rewards. Guzik’s commentary says “Jesus has just clearly shown us God’s righteous standard; perhaps He is anticipating the thought ‘wouldn’t everybody be impressed if I was like that?’ So now, Jesus addresses the danger of cultivating an image of righteousness.” Thus, these verses are contrasting true righteousness with an image of righteousness. One is God’s character; the other is a cheap imitation to gain worldly applause.
In the chapter before this, Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16) In one place Jesus says do not trumpet your good works and in an earlier place Jesus says let your good works shine light before others. This seems contradictory unless shining before others is the work that was done directly to them. We get involved with others helping them and treating them well, and it is impossible to hide. On the other hand, there is no reason to tell people not directly affected about our deeds. I guess it’s the difference between action and talk. If we are doing the actions, someone will know about them no matter how much we hide them, but if we are talking about our own actions, people will close their ears and hearts because we are bragging. In commenting on this, Guzik’s commentary says “Although His followers are to be seen doing good works, they must not do good works simply to be seen.”
Good works are defined as good works based on our motivations as much as our actions. If we are doing good works for bragging rights or to receive the respect of others or for a tax break, then we will receive the worldly reward, but God will not see it as an action of the kingdom of heaven, which is based on self-denying other-centered love. When we do good works in order to please the Father or when it is simply out of love that dwells within us, God is pleased. MHCC says “When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them.”
(Understanding the Text / Application) How can we do righteous acts without being aware of them? How can the left hand not know what the right hand is doing? Guzik says “Though we cannot really be ignorant about our own giving, we can deny any indulgent self-congratulation.” I think this is true, but there might be more. God recognizes our righteous acts even when we do not think of them as righteous. In other words, these actions have become so normal and common place to us that we do not think of them as anything special or noteworthy. They are simply everyday actions that everyone should just normally do. This is why people taking selfies as they do something good and putting them up on Facebook and then going on talk shows to tell about them is wrong. Everyone applauds, but it smacks of showmanship and self-promotion rather than promoting the kingdom of heaven.
(Revelation of God) Jesus gives an example of practicing righteousness as giving to the needy. The Bible consistently points to helping widows and orphans as a righteous deed. I guess helping any human however they need help as long as it is within God’s will is pleasing to God. God is constantly giving good towards people, and they never pay attention, but that does not stop Him from doing good. Doing good is simply His way of being, and He wants us to be like that also.
(Prayer) I am selfish and self-centered, so I do not have the necessary requirements to give in a way that pleases God. I pray that I will please You. I pray for the heart that is unselfish and focused on You. Thank you.