January 10, 2022

That Longing for Attention Means You've Lost Sight of the Almighty

Matthew 6

Todd Stutzman
Monday's Devo

January 10, 2022

Monday's Devo

January 10, 2022

Central Truth

Let us remind ourselves daily of the amazing gift of eternal life for those of us who have accepted Christ—the treasures that await us in heaven, which are far greater than any accolades from others or possessions we could dream of this side of eternity.

Key Verse | Matthew 6:21

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

Matthew 6

Giving to the Needy

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 in heaven.

Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. 1 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence

10  Your kingdom come,
your will be done, 2 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
    on earth as it is in heaven.

11  Give us this day our daily bread, 3 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
12  and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13  And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil. 4 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

16 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust 5 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20 destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 6 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions

Do Not Be Anxious

25 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? 26 Look 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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 7 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But 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.

Footnotes

[1] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
[2] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
[3] 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
[4] 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
[5] 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20
[6] 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
[7] 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

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Dive Deeper | Matthew 6

Growing up, I tended to base my behavior on those around me and the approval I could earn. Today, people pleasing and a legalistic lens remain a daily struggle. In this passage, Jesus continues His teaching with a focus on the three acts the Pharisees were exploiting to build themselves up: tithing (Matthew 6:2), praying (Matthew 6:5), and fasting (Matthew 6:16). I love it when others notice my acts of service; but if the boasting of self is the "why" behind my actions, then I need a heart check. As Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, Are we "seeking the approval of man, or of God?"

Jesus gives us a great model:

  • Matthew 6:9: Remember to whom we are praying: our Father! We know that we are heirs of the Creator of the universe (Galatians 4:6-7).
  • Matthew 6:10: His will be done. We can trust in the fact that His plans and timing are far greater than ours.
  • Matthew 6:11: God is our provider and sustainer. We must rely on God daily and have a Proverbs 30:8 mindset.
  • Matthew 6:12: Forgive as He forgave. If we are to be Christ-like, how more like Christ can we be than forgiving others (Ephesians 4:32).
  • Matthew 6:13: His help in temptation. Going to God in prayer during temptation should be our response (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Jesus finishes this section talking about money and worry—two things likely at the forefront for most folks. I know for me it is easy to get caught up with chasing financial goals or having the latest and greatest. I daily need the reminder that having wrong treasures leads the heart astray (Matthew 6:21) and that we can serve only one master (Matthew 6:24). My worries whether great or small are in vain knowing the Creator of the universe who sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins is a trustworthy Father. What better news than that!

Discussion Questions

1. When looking at your daily/weekly activities, are there any "Christian" activities that are being done to "check the box" or to have others view you in a better light?

2. How can you change the heart behind and action of your "acts of righteousness" to not be seen by man?

3. What would your best friends or spouse say is competing with your relationship with Jesus as your top treasure? This could be based on your time, money, thoughts, etc.

4. How can you practically change from a worry to a prayerful mindset throughout your day (2 Corinthians 10:5)?