In Matthew 6, Jesus is delivering the best sermon ever preached, the sermon on the mount.  Here Jesus is surrounded by a large group of people, and is basically turning the religious order of the day on it’s head.  Namely, Jesus is exposing that true religion is not found in behavior, but in a changed heart.  This of course is meant to lead people to understand that they cannot change their heart, they’re sinners by nature, and in need of a savior.  Jesus is also going to lay out a way of practicing righteousness from the heart that is glorifying to God, and profitable for the edification and sanctification of the doer.  Sadly, most of American Christianity is not even in a position to understand that message fully yet.  We almost have to take a step back, and encourage believers to even make an attempt at practicing righteousness – something that was taken as a given in the audience Jesus was speadking to.

Most church services on Sunday are packed full of “emotional experiences” with a rocking band, and a stand up comedian for a pastor – but the practice of righteousness is not emphasized.  Most of the people are too busy hearing a message of free grace, that God loves you despite your sins, that they neglect the whole point of the gospel – Jesus came to save you from your sins, not so that you could remain in them.  Let me say it this way – if you love your sin and feel no repentance leading you to want to practice righteousness, you don’t love God.  It’s that simple.  1 John 5:18 – “We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”  If you love God, practicing righteousness should not be a burden to you, but a delight.  1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”  You are losing those things that were full of empty promises and lies, and gaining the steadfast love of God.

Here is what Jesus says about practicing righteousness in Matthew 6:

Verses 1-3 – “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.”

Verses 5-6 – “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.

Verses 16-18 – “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. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 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.”

My question/exhortation is this – Do you give to the needy – at all?  Do you pray – at all?  Do you fast – at all?  Note:  For more info on what/why fasting go here:  http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/the-crazy-idea-of-fasting-in-09  These are understood and taught by Jesus to be regular parts of a Christian’s life and practice of righteousness.  Now the wrong response to these questions would be to say, “well, no, I don’t give to the needy, so I need to run out and do that…. gotta check off that box!”  God doesn’t need your money, he doesn’t want your money for its own sake.  God, wants your heart, and for you to be joyful not in your money or circumstances, but in Him.  My encouragement is to pray to God to give you a heart for those things that will draw you closer to Him, with your final aim being your sanctification, and joy in a stronger relationship with God.  Discipline your heart and life for godliness, our reward in Christ is great.

Grace and Peace,
Adam