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Tag: Matthew 6

Hope For the Financially Stressed
Series: Money from Matthew’s gospel (part 2). By Rosie Moore.

As a counsellor, I’ve come to realize that money troubles can be profoundly serious, painful, and stressful. There are many reasons why we can feel overwhelmed by financial worries—such as job loss, unexpected expenses, poor decisions, crippling debt, theft, or the illness or death of a primary earner. Even natural disasters, like the recent Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, can devastate a lifetime of hard work in a single day.

Those who find themselves trapped in a financial pit often feel anger, discouragement, fear, panic, intense helplessness, and eventually hopelessness. In such a state of relentless stress, it is easy to be consumed by worries and fears. Paralysing fear prevents us from taking the necessary steps to address our real financial issues.

Jesus understands this struggle and does not discount our concerns about money. Instead, he reminds us not to focus our hearts on material worries, such as what we will eat or drink, but instead to seek his kingdom first. Before we dismiss Christ’s words in the sermon on the Mount as out-of-touch platitudes, let’s take a moment to revisit Matthew 6:5-34 and ask God what He wants to teach us through our financial struggles:

⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:5-34)

Jesus gives us three truths to anchor our anxious hearts.
1. God knows my needs.
Like most people, I have to regularly navigate financial stress. I’m not immune to worry, but I’ve found that hope for the financially stressed lies in this simple but profound truth:

Our heavenly Father knows all our needs and is faithful to care for His children.

Because I’m prone to forget, I keep a vase of flowers in my house and a bird feeder outside my window as visual reminders of God’s faithful care. Apart from restoring our minds and bodies, God teaches us many truths about Himself through the natural world.

When I lie awake with racing thoughts–from the university fees due this month, to unknown expenses in the future, to market forces beyond our control, to the latest disease afflicting our crocodile farm, I have to remind myself that God is sovereign, wise and good. Nothing falls outside the ambit of his loving care. He is my provider, He knows what I need and how to supply it. With each new day, I can ask and trust my Father to give me my daily bread.

As Jesus pointed out, our God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers who do not work or have any need to be anxious, because God is faithful to them. And then Jesus notes that God’s children are worth far more than birds and flowers. Likewise, we have no need to be anxious about our lives, but need to trust our present and our future to God’s sovereign goodness.

This isn’t just a comforting platitude; it’s a true perspective rooted in God’s sovereignty and providence over our lives. “God knows all my needs” is a sermon we need to preach to ourselves daily. Moreover, He has proved how much He cares by sending His own Son to die for us (Romans 8:32).

If we put our trust in God, then we’ll enter into a place of rest and peace, knowing that our caring Father, (not money) is ultimately looking after us. From this place of childlike dependence, we can pray and work out an intelligent plan for our finances, following principles from God’s Word and putting His priorities first.
1. Seek first His kingdom.
Take heart! Rather than letting our fears take over, Jesus urges His followers to anchor their thoughts on the most valuable thing in the world—knowing God and being part of His kingdom (Matt 6:33). In Christ alone we find true life, peace and joy. Money is a mirage of these things.

When we re-focus on God’s kingdom, we see that financial struggles are no different from other trials. Trials are not just random events in a believer’s life; they are opportunities to grow and become more Christlike in our attitudes and actions. Like all painful trials, financial afflictions are God’s pruning shears to enable us to bear more fruit for Christ (John 15:1-3).

For example, money troubles provide an opportunity to appreciate our amazing wealth in the Father of Jesus Christ, our refuge, treasure, true inheritance and portion forever. Money pressures humble us to pray and trust God like a child. They give our Father an opportunity to sustain us with His love and daily manna. They train us to think wisely through practical matters such as: budgeting, giving, lending and borrowing, use of credit, saving and investment, insurance, inheritance, and responsibilities towards children and extended family. A financial crisis can be a catalyst to develop a biblical theology of money.

As we re-orientate our hearts toward God’s righteousness and kingdom in the thick of our financial stress, we may notice the meaning and value we’ve attached to money:

Perhaps we’ve been relying on money as our source of safety and security. Maybe money provides validation. Or gives us power to control people and circumstances. Or we’ve forgotten that we own nothing apart from what God has given to us. We may be using money as a tool to impress or be accepted in a particular group.

Perhaps we have a problem with overspending or excessive debt that God wants us to deal with. Or maybe we are jealous when others are prospering and we aren’t. What room is there for jealousy when the King distributes all things according to His perfect knowledge and will?

It takes discipline to spend within the boundaries that God has provided and take responsibility for our personal finances. It’s hard to downsize expectations and spending. It’s hard to be content when the money runs out. But every financial crisis is an opportunity to grow in sanctification.

If we’re relying on money to provide us with security, power, identity, comfort, control or purpose, we are using money to find life apart from the Lord. There’s nothing like a financial crisis to expose this idol!

In seeking Christ’s kingdom and righteousness first, we begin to see financial troubles as part of the larger story of our sovereign God’s plan to redeem us in and through our unique trials. All the money in the world cannot buy this training and transformation!
1. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34 is comforting, since Jesus acknowledged that each day has enough trouble of its own. Christ doesn’t minimize our daily struggles in earning a living and managing money in a fallen world. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, but worrying is time wasted. Jesus notes that anxiety paralyses us from doing what God holds us responsible to do today. The emphasis is on today.

Each day’s trouble is enough to handle. As followers of Christ, we need to plan ahead and work to provide the necessities of life—food, shelter and clothing (1 Tim 6:6-10). It should be our “ambition” to lead a quiet life, to pursue our calling and work hard, so we may win the respect of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone else (1 Thess 4:11-12). But work is cursed with thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17-19). Jesus acknowledges these everyday troubles of eating bread by the sweat of our faces.

At the same time, Christ wants us to be led by God’s greater goals for our money: loving our neighbour as ourself, giving generously, being found faithful with our possessions. After all, is this not the only fitting response to the foundational truth that God is the One who has given us everything we earn and own?

In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul writes,

“Moreover, it is required of stewards to be found faithful”.

Here are six practical principles to help us be faithful financial stewards of what God has entrusted to us:
1. Work smart. If you don’t have enough, you either need to earn more or spend less.
2. Spend smart. Live within your means and buy only what you can afford. Don’t go into debt for luxuries or liabilities. If you can’t pay cash, don’t buy it. Only borrow for assets like a house or a business. If you’re already in debt, develop a plan to pay it off as soon as possible.
3. Invest smart. Put your money into assets rather than liabilities.
4. Develop multiple income streams, so if one dries up you have others.
5. Build up your passive income, so your money is making money for you.
6. Give smart. Generous giving is part of being a Christian. You can never outgive God.
There is hope for the financially stressed! If our goals are to glorify God; to love Him more; and to be found faithful with our possessions, then financial stress is fertile soil for growth. Thinking about money biblically will develop in us contentment and joy as we find true life in Christ, who is life indeed. As James Petty writes,

“When our treasure is in our relationship with Christ, then we can be freed from seeking life in the things that we possess, and freed to actually live in the fallen world and remain in the Living Branch that bears fruit for eternity (John 15:5).

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you promise that you are “able to make all grace abound to [us], so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, [we] may abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8). You are our faithful Shepherd, and we have everything we need (Ps 23:1-2). Still our fears with a deep trust in your provision and care. Enable us to be faithful in very little so that we will also be faithful in much. We acknowledge that all we have earned comes from you, and all we own belongs to you. Please forgive us for the sinful ways we’ve viewed money and used it as a surrogate god. Forgive us for worrying instead of trusting you with the details of our lives. Grant us your grace to be wise and faithful stewards of your money. Amen.
October 8, 2024
God or Money?

Series: Matthew and Money.

“If I had more money, I’d be happy…I’d give more…I’d have time and energy to serve in my church.”

“When I earn enough I’ll become a faithful giver.”

“I worry all the time about my finances.”

Do any of these sentiments resonate with you?

Our attitude towards money and possessions often reveals who is king of our heart. Matthew understood this well. Also known as Levi, Matthew was a tax collector by profession before becoming one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Tax collectors were seen as collaborators with the Roman authorities and were often associated with greed and corruption. The Jews treated them with disdain. But Matthew’s encounter with Jesus transformed his life forever. He left his lucrative position to follow Christ as King (Matt 9:9-13). Nothing compares to being part of Christ’s kingdom (Matt 13:44-46).

The god of materialism.

In the coming weeks, we’ll explore texts from Matthew’s gospel concerning money, often referred to as “mammon”. Mammon embodies materialism. We may not consider ourselves materialistic, but our fixation on things we own or want may tell a different story. We don’t have to be rich to serve mammon. Both the rich and the poor struggle with greed and covetousness, because the god of materialism beckons us all to worship at its altar.

Jesus warns us that we can’t serve two masters; we must choose whom we will love. I heard a principle long ago which I have never forgotten: We will only sacrifice for our God. If we are willing to sacrifice for the sake of money rather than Christ, we are fooling ourselves–money has become our god.

Two investments.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is addressing believers. He contrasts two investments, two masters and two visions:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²²“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:19-24.)

A Harvard study spanning from 1938 to 1992 asked participants how much money they needed to be happy. Regardless of income, almost every participant claimed they needed double what they earned. No one was content with their current financial status. As Christians, we should pay attention to studies like this, as we too are prone to discontent, greed and idolatry. We are materialists at heart, wired to pursue what is bigger, newer, better than what we have, but this leads us into a trap (1 Tim 6:6-9; James 5:1-3).

Jesus reminds us that a fruitful Christian life does not stem from having more earthly wealth, but from contentment with what we have and an eagerness to use our resources right now for eternal good, since God’s Kingdom is infinitely more valuable than any earthly treasure. The true King and His Kingdom priorities deserve our full attention and loyalty (Matt 6:25).

What are our earthly “treasures”? Our treasures are all the gifts and resources that God has given us to use for His glory. They consist of time, talents, energy, creativity, and material wealth and possessions.

In the equivalent passage in Luke, Jesus warns us to watch out and be on our guard against all kinds of greed, because life does not consist in an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).

This warning is particularly apt for us, as humanity has created a world filled with excess and indulgence. Coupled with our covetous hearts, it’s easy for our desire for consumption to become the all-encompassing motive and drive of our lives. The only way out is contentment (Phil 4:11-13).

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

To understand Jesus’s teaching on money, we need to see it in the context of the whole sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been speaking to his disciples about what it means to lead a righteous life on earth. The Lord looks not only at our outward acts, but also at the motives of our hearts. As an example, Jesus contrasts the right kind of giving and the wrong kind of giving (Matt 6:2-4). What we do and why we do it are both important (Matt 6:1-2; 5-6; 16-17).

The person who gives for the applause of others has received their reward in full. There will be no reward in heaven. But if a person gives for the love of God, his/her reward will last into eternity.

Matthew 6:19-24 addresses the temptation of a covetous heart. The world encourages us to look around; to compare ourselves with those who have more than us; to flaunt our stuff and stockpile wealth. But Jesus warns that a focus on earthly treasures diverts our devotion away from God. Nothing has the capacity to choke our spiritual fruitfulness like the deceitfulness of wealth, or the anxiety that accompanies materialism (Matthew 13:22).

Importantly, money isn’t inherently evil. It’s neutral and can be used for good (1 Tim 4:4). It’s not that believers must give away everything we own, close our bank accounts and neglect our families (1 Tim 5:8). Other Scriptures speak to the wisdom of hard work and planning ahead (Prov 6:6-8), as well as the blessing of inheritance for children’s children (Prov 13:22). The issue lies in the love of money, which leads to selfish pursuits and idolatry rather than being a blessing to others.

Two Masters, Two Visions.

Jesus states, “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.” A Master demands full attention, setting priorities for us. He requires devotion and faithful service. If Jesus is our Master, then we are stewards of everything He entrusts to us, including our wealth and possessions. The Lord does not tolerate moonlighting—the act of working an extra job for another boss. A desire for riches can quickly become more important that our walk with God.

Jesus later uses the metaphor of vision to illustrate our focus: our eyes must be directed toward heavenly things to be filled with light. We cannot have squint eyes that dart in different directions (Matt 6:22-23). Being fixated on material things casts a shadow over everything we think or do. It darkens and dims our spiritual sight. We soon become foolish.

In Luke 12, Jesus gives an example of the rich fool who tore down his old barns and built new ones to store his abundance of grain. After selfishly stockpiling wealth with no regard for God, the man died, leaving it all behind. Jesus says, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21). His attitude to money was greedy, grasping and godless. Ultimately, the rich man was a fool as he had no eternal view.

The Eternal View.

Reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount encourages me to evaluate my life through an eternal lens. What captivates my heart? Am I double-minded? Do I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, strength…and money? Do I seek security in Christ or in money?

In a consumer-driven world which trains us to serve mammon instead of God, you and I must guard against a covetous heart. Maintaining an eternal perspective helps us resist the love of money.

Our material possessions won’t last beyond this life, but the good we do for God’s kingdom endures forever. Loving God and our neighbour with all the gifts and resources that God has given us is what it means to be rich toward God.

Two Banks, Two treasures.

Jesus reminds us that investing in an earthly bank ultimately yields frustration and emptiness. Material possessions are unreliable; they can be lost and eroded. Thieves identify the wealthy and steal their possessions. Cars rust and property markets crash. The world’s bank will ultimately fail (Matt 6:19), because material possessions do not ultimately provide security (1 Tim 6:17). Like the ancient Pharaohs who rotted alongside their elaborate treasures, we will die and leave it all behind. As the writer of Proverbs noted, “In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle” (Prov 23:4-5).

In contrast, heavenly treasures are secure and eternal. All our acts of obedience and giving are treasures laid up in heaven. Investing in God’s kingdom offers contentment and the joy of being a cheerful giver in the here and now, but the ultimate dividends will be paid in eternity. We cannot begin to imagine the rewards God has in store for us. Investing in heaven’s bank is the best investment choice we will ever make.

This passage challenges us to examine whether we serve money, or allow our money to serve the Lord. Are we using our resources for God’s kingdom and glory? Are we investing in precious souls that will last for eternity?

Jesus demonstrated the right attitude toward wealth: “Though he was rich, he became poor, so that you through his poverty, might become rich.” (2 Cor 8:9) God has secured His children’s eternal wealth on the cross.

Money is a mirror.

Ultimately, our relationship with money mirrors our relationship with God. Levon Helm expresses the heart cry of materialism, “Feelin’ good, feelin’ good, all the money in the world spent on feelin’ good.” In contrast, those who love the Lord cry for heaven. We are called to prioritise eternal investments over temporary treasures and pleasures. Being rich towards God means that our hearts are aligned with His Kingdom and His values. By focusing on what truly matters, we can resist the lure of materialism and live a life that treasures Christ above all else.

September 26, 2024
The Sirens of Self

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]By Rosie Moore.

Years ago, when I used to read books aloud to my children, I remember how my son loved our big book of Greek myths. He was fascinated by the story of the Sirens in the myth of Odysseus, the Greek hero. The Sirens were birdlike temptresses, who lured sailors to their death with their enchanting music. Men would smash their ships on the jagged cliffside of the island where the Sirens lived, leaving the helpless men drowned or stranded. My son studied the gory illustration in much detail!

But, determined not to be enticed by the Sirens, Odysseus asked his crew to tie him to the mast to prevent him from steering the ship onto the rocks and he put wax in his ears so that he wouldn’t hear them. The Sirens have become symbolic of the many temptations which lure men away from their purpose, with the ultimate consequence of death.

The Sirens sound so dramatic! We can all imagine sex, drugs, prostitution, porn and phone addiction being sirens. But isn’t the siren of self a much more subtle one that steers us away from our purpose as human beings?

The Westminster shorter catechism asks the question: “What is the chief end of man?” And it answers: “To give glory to God and enjoy him forever.

In contrast, the worldview in which we are born and raised worships self above all else. Most of us are steeped in self glory from the moment we leave the womb. Just think of how everyone coo’s and praises a baby for smiling, burping and eating its porridge, even filling its nappy!

We are trained to enjoy ourselves; seek rewards from others; uphold and affirm ourselves; pick ourselves up from our bootstraps; develop our own strategies to deal with troubles; re-brand ourselves; motivate ourselves; pursue financial independence; convince ourselves that we’re enough, worthy of loving, admiring and praising.

Of course, most of these things are good in moderation, but the siren of self is a dangerous enchantress which can lure even believers to act like hypocrites who have long forgotten our life’s purpose, which is to give glory to God and enjoy Him forever.

Jesus pointed this out in Matthew 6, in the heart of His Sermon on the Mount. He was talking to his disciples about three religious activities that they would regularly engage in as Jewish believers. These activities were giving, praying and fasting, habits of grace that should still be part and parcel of the Christian life.

Giving, fasting, praying.

Of course, they are very good habits to cultivate. But Jesus recognized that even in the midst of worthy pursuits, the natural inclination of the human heart is to draw attention to ourselves and steal the glory that belongs to God alone. We are self seekers by nature. See how Christ warned his disciples against hypocrisy and the siren of self which would try to entice them away from their life’s purpose:

Giving

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵“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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But 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. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
¹²And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

¹⁴For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

¹⁶“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that it will not be obvious to others 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.

Sirens of admiration

Don Carson comments beautifully and succinctly on this passage, and he uses a word which is so apt. The word is ‘admired’. Listen to what Carson says:

“Jesus recognizes how easy it is for sinners to engage in worthy, philanthropic and even religious activities, less in order to do what is right than to be admired for doing what is right. If being thought generous is more important than being generous, if gaining a reputation for prayerfulness is more important to us than praying when no one but God is listening, if fasting is something we engage only if we can disingenuously talk about it, then these acts of piety are becoming acts of impiety.”

In every religious act we perform, it may be good to ask ourselves, “Who is being admired? Who gets the glory?”

Who gets the glory?

Giving, fasting and praying are ways that we humbly express our utter dependence and gratitude to God, thereby giving him all the glory:

We give to the needy, because God graciously gave to us the gift of forgiveness and the unshakeable blessings we have in Christ. We give, because we know just how fragile we are and depend on the providence of our faithful God in the midst of our own physical and spiritual neediness. When we give and help those in need, we reflect back praise and thanks to God. When we give, we take our minds off our own little aches, pains and inconveniences, and become more interested in the lives of people around us.

We fast, because we know that we are utterly empty and helpless without Christ’s filling and deliverance. We are desperately hungry for his Spirit to fill our lives and make us whole. We fast because we see our own sin and weakness and we’re hungry for mercy. We long to taste with our spiritual taste buds and see with our spiritual eyes that the Lord is good. We recognize that physical pleasures pale in comparison with the eternal banquet at the end of time, when we will be truly satisfied. When we fast, we empty ourselves of self to seek his guidance, wisdom and grace in a particular way, for a particular time.

We pray, because through prayer we relate intimately with God, our Father in heaven, who has adopted us into his family. It is in this affectionate and confidential communion with the Maker of heaven and earth, that we come to Jesus as a little child and find rest from all our labours. Prayer is like a wonderful room where a child of the King is invited to cozy up to his/her dad, to share the details of the day and be shown the secrets of the kingdom.

In these three ‘religious’ activities that Jesus names– giving, fasting and praying–we remember our humble estate and give all the glory to God for our extraordinary privilege. Christ is our reward and our treasure. He is the focus and the axis, not ourselves.

The siren of self.

But see how quickly the siren of self can turn even the best endeavours into acts of hypocrisy. The sirens start to scream, “What about me?”

And so, we start chasing our rewards now, saying, “Look at me! See how good I am! See how much more I’m doing or giving or praying than these others who are so indifferent to the needs around them! See what great rewards I’m storing up in heaven! See how God is using me in his kingdom! See how I’m suffering for his sake! See how many I’m leading into his kingdom!”

Or the siren of self may use a sneaky song to deflect God’s glory: “See how useless and unworthy I am, I can do nothing for God’s kingdom! Surely the world would be better off without me? What difference can giving, fasting or praying make when the world is so hopeless? Why did all these bad things to happen to a generous giver like me?”

The sirens of self are not always easy to identify and can sneak up on us quite unexpectedly. But when they lure us away from Christ, we deflect all the glory due to God, to ourselves. We look to people to recognize, admire or feel sorry for us. We develop a ‘God complex’, believing ourselves to be the saviour. Or we can become so self absorbed with our own dark feelings, troubles or moods that we sail horribly close to the jagged cliffs.

Oh dear, how can we be free from the Sirens of self? Can we be like Odysseus and ask someone to tie us physically to the mast of our ship, so that we just stand immobile and not do anything? Shall we block our ears with balls of wax, so we can’t hear the Sirens? I don’t think so! God’s Word tells us that we are Christ’s workmanship created for good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do (Phil 2:10). Jesus tells us that He means us to hear his Word and be fruitful, producing a crop that yields a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Matt 13:23).

Our works are for His glory and our joy, so paralysis is not the answer. But I think probing the heart is.

Probe the heart.

Jesus reminds us throughout Matthew 6 to examine our hearts. In the realm of money, He says to “store up eternal treasures,” because our hearts will inevitably pursue whatever we truly value. In the realm of worry, Jesus says the antidote is to trust and ask God to give us what we need.

Whatever captivates our dreams and imaginations, our longings and desires; whatever sparks our fears and anxiety—these things will become the sirens that enchant us. Jesus teaches us to turn our hearts away from these self destructive sirens, and towards Himself. When Jesus is our compass, we forget about ourselves and are kept on a steady course.

“Therefore, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:33) What a simple but profound solution to the siren of self. This verse is the key to the whole chapter.

For His eyes only.

And so, Don Carson suggests that the only way to stop our religious activities being wrecked by the sirens of self, is to “do them so quietly that no one but God knows we are doing them.”

Be generous with your many blessings, but tell no one that you’re giving, and ask the recipient to keep it anonymous too. The rewards of eternity are imperishable, even if we do something as small and invisible as giving a thirsty person a cup of water for Christ’s sake (Matt 10:41-42).

Pray more where no one but God can see you, than you pray in public. Forget about whether you feel like it or not, just remember who you are and lay everything at his feet.

Fast, but do it with a cheerful face and attitude, so no one but your closest people know you’re abstaining from what you usually enjoy.

And don’t be bold enough to ask God for forgiveness if you’ve been unwilling to forgive someone else (Matt 16:14-15).

We cannot stop the Sirens of self blasting in our ears and we cannot tie ourselves to the mast to purge ourselves of impure motives. But we can make sure that we perform good acts with a simple, sincere desire to please God, not to create the impression that we are pleasing God.

Impressions are seldom accurate, and admiration is always short lived, but pleasing God is the one reward not ruled by the law of diminishing returns. It’s the only reward worth living for.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]Q2xpY2sgZWRpdCBidXR0b24gdG8gY2hhbmdlIHRoaXMgY29kZS4=[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions –[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

February 4, 2022