Right Motives

Introduction: Ever had the boss or someone come across the room at you with a look on their face and you prepare for the worse? Only to find out they complimented you. That makes your day!

The baby boomer generation is looking for compliments and rewards. These help to validate ourselves and what we do. Everyone needs a compliment and a sense of achievement. However, the rewards are not the reason we do things. We should do the right things from a spiritual motive and not one for rewards only.

Wrong motives for Religious Acts Matt. 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

1. Righteousness is a theme that binds (Matt. 6:1-8) Righteousness here means acts of righteousness.

2. The problem was not their failure to do them but their motives for doing them.

3. The key phrase here is “before men”

Right motives for Giving Matt 6:2-4 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

1. Giving to the needy has a broad meaning of doing acts of mercy and kindness. Time and money are included.

2. Since God is kind and merciful he expects his children to be also.

3. Hypocrites are like actors in a play. They perform their acts to be seen and receive applause.

4. To give in secret is to give carefully and not make a point of it. We should not be seen as being too self-conscious when we give.

Right motives for praying Matt. 6:5-8 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

1. Prayer is to be done carefully in public

2. Standing is one of the many forms recognized in the Bible for prayer. However, it is not to be done for applause.

3. Foundation for prayer life is to be a personal one between you and the Father

4. Jesus contrasted prayer life with that of the pagans who used many words in repetition to get Gods attention. This is not necessary.

5. We do not need to overwhelm God with many words.

6. If God knows that we need then why ask him? God’s best gifts are dependent on a personal relationship with him. Prayer, the communing with God is what builds that relationship. 

Right motives for fasting Matt. 6:16-18 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

1. Fasting is used in many ways

   1. Way of humbling oneself before God, usually because of sin

   2. To seek strength and direction from God

   3. Expression of self-discipline that puts first things first

   4. Also used to feed the poor

2. What about Christian fasting? Note the scriptures say when you fast, not if you fast

3. Jesus did not teach a schedule for fasting. Why? It would have become ritualistic

4. Hypocrites want people to k now they are fasting and so they alter their appearance to show it.

5. “In secret” is the theme in Matthew

Conclusion: Jesus gave examples of hypocrites in three areas: giving, fasting, and prayer. Beware.