| Matthew 6:1-16, 16-21 |
| 1“Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever 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. 16“And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. |
| In these passages from Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to live true to your faith. Jesus directed his words directly at the religious establishment of the time and the words transcend time, being relevant to Christians today. Growing up in a Lutheran household with Nordic and Swiss roots, these passages were well known to me a young age. To be humble and not call attention to yourself, especially in matters of faith is a typical Lutheran attribute. The world looking at Lutherans, sometimes labels us as stoic and not welcoming. We may have an opposite image problem than the flamboyant evangelicals on TV. However, we cannot label the flamboyant as the modern pharisees and not look at ourselves. No matter how stoic the outside is, it is the inside that counts. It was after college when I attended a mixed age Bible study that I became aware of the deep faith of elder Lutherans. It was seeing faith in action that gave credibility to the thoughtful answers to difficult questions. We are bombarded with social media moments designed to demonstrate how the public action taken makes the person doing it great. Jesus calls out the hypocritical actions for what they are. This is a lesson for all of us, to live out our faith humbly, not expecting earthly reward. Now lest we feel our Lutheran stoic heritage exempts us from ego centric actions take a quick look at verse 21. “For where your treasure is, your heart will be also”. Jesus said it perfectly; I can’t add a thing (also just hit Daina’s word count max). Prayer: Dear Lord inspire me to be your hands and feet here in the world with a humble heart. We know you know the motives of our heart and those actions now benefit those in need and any reward here on earth is but a fleeting moment. Amen. —Mark Pladson |