Giving, Praying, Fasting

"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 heaven." 

With these words, Jesus teaches his disciples the right way to give, pray, and fast. The main point being that these actions are between you and God, not you and other people though others may be involved. Giving to the needy is an act between you and God that benefits another person. This is why Jesus mentions the reward from the Father. We are to give out of a desire to serve God by serving others and trust that he knows what we are doing whether or not anyone else does. 

Now, should we give only cash at the church and not give our names? I don't think this is Jesus' point. His point is to make sure that our motivation in giving is following God and not seeking the praise of other people. The same could be said of prayer. Does Jesus mean that we should only pray behind closed doors? No, I believe his point is that prayer is a conversation between you and God in which we speak to God with the motivation being worship, the meeting of our needs, seeking forgiveness, and asking for strength. Whether or not this prayer happens in the presence of others is irrelevant because prayer should have the same motivation whether we are in public or in private. 

Should we hide the fact that we are fasting? No. If I am not eating dinner, I cannot give my wife no reason. The point Jesus makes is that we are to carry on with daily life as we are fasting. We do not fast to seek the approval of others but to gain the reward of God. 

Which reward do we seek? That of God or that of man? Our motivation behind these three activities reveals our true hearts. 

1. How can we worship God through giving, prayer, and fasting in the midst of other people?

2. What are the struggles we face in trying to do seek God as opposed to man's approval?

Peace, 

Jeff Moody

jeffmoody82@gmail.com