Sunday, September 6, 2009

Matthew 6 -- Motivations

Why do we do what we do? We are called to pray, why do we pray the way and places we do? WE are called to do good works, we are called to spiritual disciplines of fasting, giving, praying etc... Why do we do them the way we do? That is the question God is asking us through Matthew. What is out motivation?

I have been in many situations where people have done what God has called not out of a spirit of following God, rather out of a look at me spirit. The look at me spirit is one where we practice our spiritual disciplines not for connection of God, but to show everyone else how holy we are. The result of this is people pretending to know God when they do not, and others being afraid of the spiritual disciplines because they are not as good as someone else.

None of what we do in the area of Spiritual disciplines is for someone else. It is all for God. When we pray, it is to communicate with God not others. When we fast, it is to deepen our connection with God, not show our holiness. In our giving, we are not giving to show people our wealth and sacrifice, it is to show God how much we trust. There will always be someone who uses more eloquent words to pray, there will always be someone who does and gives more than you, it is not a competition. It is the living out a relationship with God.

When we forget this, we begin to worry about everything. We trust our own eyes and understanding more than God's. We have no reason to worry, only to trust. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and let God take care of the rest .

No comments:

Post a Comment