Week 23 - Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18
Give. Pray. Fast.
Three simple disciplines.
Yet every action has a list of motives behind it.
Have you ever noticed how masterful we are at disguising our true motives? You are so brilliant at this that you can even disguise your motives from yourself. You can pull the wool over your own eyes.
Jesus continues the conversation about deep righteousness. Righteousness is to be done for an audience of one, but most of us play to audiences of hundreds and thousands. What does it look like to practice righteousness in a way that only God can reward us? If you find out, let me know.
As you dwell in Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 this week, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) In our culture, what are examples of how humans give, pray, and fast so that others can see how "righteous" we are?
2) Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." How do you reconcile these two passages?
3) In this passage, Jesus seems to give people what they want: the praise of people or the reward of God. What drives you to do acts of righteousness?
4) How do we begin to combat our tendency to act for the praise of people? How does Jesus prompt us to change our behavior?
5) How does this passage challenge our behavior on social media, (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?
6) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?
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