This has been on my mind for quite some
time. Every time I'm on facebook there's a new picture of “get
1,000,000” likes; “click like if you have a daughter that you
love”; “click like to show you support your troops”; and the
list just goes on and on and on.
The only thing this shows is that
people will support an idea – or that people will show they like
something. What's the reason in this? They're looking for
acceptance, approval, or they click “like” because that's what
people expect of them. Here's a question I'd like to ask.
What did a man who once walked the
earth have to say about this? Well, there was a lot said about this
– but let's look in detail at Matthew 6:1-6:
Take
heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in
heaven. 2 Therefore
when thou doest thine alms,
do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But
when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth: 4 That
thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret
himself shall reward thee openly. 5 ¶ And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward. 6 But
thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast
shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
It's
quite clear that Jesus was clear in his statements. Don't do as men
do – don't seek acceptance from others – as that's all you'll
get. Do you seek acceptance or respect? Jesus teaches so much to us
in this passage – and it's quite clear that many people in the
world lack a God they so much claim to believe.
If
Jesus said – pray in secret so that you would be rewarded openly,
then do so. If Jesus said if you pray in the street as the publican
did seeking people's acceptance and stating “that man is a
religious man” - well that's all you'll get.
We
live in a world that so lacks the teachings of Jesus. We live in a
world that claims they are followers of Jesus – yet I'd say a large
number of these followers are big people who click that “like”
button on facebook – or click that “follow” button on Twitter.
One
thing they lack – Jesus.
Jesus
said: Therefore
when thou doest thine alms,
do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.
Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Do
you sound a trumpet when giving alms? Are you shouting “look what
I did” - well you just earned your reward.
Jesus
said: And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:
for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners
of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward.
Are
you praying or liking things in public, on facebook, on twitter and
so on that it would be seen by many? Well you just earned your
reward.
Yes
– Jesus did many things in Public. Here is a question: Was he
doing this to get approval from the people, or to give glory to God?
Think
why you're doing what you're doing. If for the wrong reasons, you're
no different than the Hypocrites, the Pulibicans, the Pharisees and
others.
A
World that lacks God – is truly lacking cures for many things in
the world – all because they don't follow the teachings of Jesus,
let's finish with Matthew 6:7-13
But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do:
for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking. 8 Be
not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things
ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9 After
this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it
is in
heaven. 11 Give
us this day our daily bread. 12 And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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