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Reading Matthew 6 this week. Pretty interesting stuff going on here, guys.
In Matt 6:2-4, again in Matt 6:5-6, and then yet again in Matt 6:16-18 Christ speaks of doing good works, praying, and fasting in secret.
These things are not to be “announce it with trumpets” or “to be seen by men.”
Yikes.
How many times have I prayed so I can make sure other people hear me or to “influence” someone by what I’ve done? Why is there this idea that if I tell people I’ve given money to those in need or served them in some way that they’ll think I’m a swell guy and feel the desire to serve the poor themselves?
I’ve heard a lot of preachers and fellow christians alike annouce with a trumpet or pray publicly. I know less that do these things in secret. If everyone kept these things a secret would I then say I don’t know anyone who gives or prays or fasts because they’ve never told me? I don’t know. Is this acceptible behaviour? I don’t know. I mean I’m not even supposed to let my left hand know what the right hand is doing. That’s crazy talk!! THEY’RE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, JESUS. That’s a serious statement. Try asking your dog not to chase it’s tail.
It was most confusing to me because in the previous chapter Christ had just instructed us to be a city on a hill so that men can see your good deeds and praise our Father in heaven. Why is there seemingly a contradiction?
I know that the Holy Spirit will guide me. If I live by the spirit i will not gratify the desires of my sinful nature. What are those desires, Mr Galatians? Well, one is selfish ambition. What’s my reward if I give and can’t get applauded by my friends? What’s my reward if I fast and don’t receive sympathy from my peers? What’s my reward if I pray and don’t get acknowledged by my elders? Christ is.
BAM.
So I suppose things would have been easier if chronologically speaking the Salt and the Light talk were after the secrecy bits in Matthew. Only when our reward is Christ for the things we do will we be that city on a hill. Only when my good works aren’t motivated by human applaud can I receive true acclaim.
Will I pray tonight? Where’s my money going? Am I fasting?
Suppose you’ll never know.
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Thanks so much for your prayers. she had an ulcer in her eye O_O anyway we got surgery and she had to wear arm braces to prevent her from rubbing her eyes. now she is bossy as ever :D
That was a very good discussion. I have been judged like that, and have judged like that. I’m ashamed that I have judged like that, but with God’s amazing grace and love and discipline, I’m learning and getting better. I also have been hurt pretty badly being judged without being known very well. God is continually healing me. God is amazing how he works through people. Keep up the good work. Your music is great…God Bless ^_^ !
@Kate: I believe that there is so much power in prayer, so I will also be praying for your sister.
I learn so much on the tenth avenue north web page!! God Bless You!
hi i was wondering if you could pray for my sister. she is speacial needs and legaly blind. her eyes have really ben hurting for the last couple of day and i was wondering if you could pray with me that she will fell better. thanks,
Mathew 10:27 also tells us” What I tell you in the Darkness that ye speak in the Light: and what ye hear in the ear that preach ye on the housetops.” I think God wants us to do in secret so we are not distracted by the worldly things and and to hear what He would say rather than what the world has to say. And then preach what He says on the housetops.
I really enjoyed this discussion
hey jeff! i love listing to tenth avenue north! u guys rock! u should keep doin wut u doin!i gotta go! bye!
Lexi Lamb
[age 11]
Tomorrow your group will be ministering at Hills Alive. Our 13-year-old son will be there with us. He is a very gifted musician (piano/keyboard) and we are praying that those on the stage will make a very clear statement to the crowd that without Christ at the center of the gift, it is nothing. So many young people are watching you, as a “city on a hill.” We are praying for all of you that your hearts will be in absolute submission to Christ. Truly, we all struggle with selfish ambition…such is the heart of mankind.
God’s blessings upon you as you come to spread the truth.
Good post. Just don’t confuse the “bragging” type of prayers with the “old time reaching Heaven” prayers that the elders from my church do. I go to an old fashioned church where the older people do pray loud, usually when someone needs a healing…or similar anointing. I think it’s good for people to pray out loud, although I am a more quiet myself. That’s how I learned to pray, by hearing others. If it’s just me around non-believers, or children I will pray out loud at times. I want to help them learn how to pray, just like the elders have taught me. Plus, there’s nothing better than hearing a grandma shouting for victory as she is reaching the gates of Heaven with her prayers!
Jeff, I’m so glad you brought up the “Letting Our LIght Shine Like a City on a Hill” verse reference to balance the often guilt-ridden interpretation of praying or doing good deeds in secret. I think that many of us think that we can’t let our lights shine or shout from the roof tops until we get our acts together in secret. Truth is, we can be extremely prideful in doing our good deeds in secret and here is why I believe this.
I just wrote a blog entry about this a couple days ago called “a humble heart and a proud heart.” I don’t think there is a tension between doing good deeds in secret or doing good deeds to let your light shine. Jesus did both. In either case, I think the proud heart fears exposure in secret or in public. The humble heart doesn’t fear exposure in secret or in public. The proud heart fears the accusation that he or she will be charged with pride. The humble heart claims their service, whether it be unseen or seen. I think the key word here is do I fear exposure? If I don’t fear exposure, then I can pray in a closet and serve at an unknown soup kitchen, or I can shout from the roof tops and let my light shine. I don’t have to apologize for my new nature. In secret deeds, I remain in the light because I don’t fear being exposed for my good deeds. On the roof tops I remain in the light because I don’t fear being exposed for the fake that I often think I’ve become. I can be confident in my new nature. It is exercising itself exactly the way it was intended, whether in secret or on the roof tops. This is my opinion.
Jeff, I’m so glad you brought up the “Letting Our LIght Shine Like a City on a Hill” verse reference to balance the often guilt-ridden interpretation of praying or doing good deeds in secret. I think that many of us think that we can’t let our lights shine or shout from the roof tops until we get our acts together in secret. Truth is, we can be extremely prideful in doing our good deeds in secret and here is why I believe this.
I just wrote a blog entry about this a couple days ago called “a humble heart and a proud heart.” I don’t think there is a tension between doing good deeds in secret or doing good deeds to let your light shine. Jesus did both. In either case, I think the proud heart fears exposure in secret or in public. The humble heart doesn’t fear exposure in secret or in public. The proud heart fears the accusation that he or she will be charged with pride. The humble heart claims their service, whether it be unseen or seen. I think the key word here is do I fear exposure? If I don’t fear exposure, then I can pray in a closet and serve at an unknown soup kitchen, or I can shout from the roof tops and let my light shine. I don’t have to apologize for my new nature. In secret deeds, I remain in the light because I don’t fear being exposed for my good deeds. On the roof tops I remain in the light because I don’t fear being exposed for the fake that I often think I’ve become. I can be confident in my new nature. It is exercising itself exactly the way it was intended, whether in secret or on the roof tops. This is my opinion.
Tenth Avenue North… To all of you.
Your music has touched my heart in a way no other has.
I can honestly say it has changed me… it’s gotten me through an
eating disorder and many other struggles and I have no idea
where I would be now if it weren’t for your music.
God has worked in my life
in so many ways through your lyrics. It’s incredible.
For my entire life, I have been struggling to feel loved by God,
to feel beautiful in His eyes instead of the world’s,
and to let go of everything but Him. Your music is helping me feel and do
all of that. Thank you so much for what you do. God is definitely
working through you to touch SO many lives.
Keep up the amazing ministry.
REAL TALK.
Seriously though. Keep it real, you’re doing an awesome job in your ministry.
Jeff,
My grandparents lived this, living their Christian testimony in many ways, including taking refugees into their home. We are called to be that shining city on the hill—not so much in preaching Christ in words (not that we shouldn’t), but preaching Christ in the works of our hands.
But when we fast; when we give sacrificially; when we set aside our own desires (or needs) to tend to the needs of others, we are to be absolutely silent about any sacrifice or discomfort we might feel.
A family appears at church on Sunday morning. Do you talk to them of Jesus? Absolutely. If they need a meal and bus fare to Ohilo, do you dig into your wallet. Absolutely. Even if that hundred bucks in your wallet is your family’s grocery budget for the week? Even then.
And when you have dug that deep into your pocket, you do not go mooning around to all your friends and relations, telling everyone about what a wonderful fellow you are to do such a wonderful thing. You don’t put on a hair shirt and proudly proclaim your “servant heart.” Rather, Jesus tells us, you rejoice, you praise God for giving you ministry opportunities, you do not trumpet your sacrifice.
If and when God gives you a diaconal ministry, this passage in Matthew will be your guide. Be wise, be faithful, be giving—and keep your mouth absolutely shut.
Wow! Jeff you got it. That is how I see it anyway. I cannot tell you how often I have seen people “act as if” only to later see them act as if NOT when no one was looking. The only relationship with Christ we need to worry about is our own.
Do I love to praise and worship with my fav bands. You bet! When we all come together for that reason it just seems fitting to rock and raise your hands in praise when the Spirit moves you.
I have now seen you all twice live and cannot wait to see you again in Sept. I really enjoy watching you play.
Jeff,
I believe the point that Jesus was trying to get across was that our ATTITUDE should not be one that wants to do good deeds to get the praise of man. Its not necessarily that we can’t do any good deeds in public, just we need to have our hearts right.
BTW-Love your music, you guys are a big inspiration.
Best of luck!
These are good thoughts Jeff! This is what I was thinking as I read this journal: we should always try to do what is good and right even if nobody seems to care or notice. We should be comfortable doing what is good when nobody sees because we know that God sees and takes notice of everything. Am I making any sense? Our reward later will be Heaven and that’s all we need, not praise or recgonition from others. Basically, we should, as the bible says,“Serve wholeheartedly as if serving the Lord,not men.”
May the Lord bless you everyday of your life,
Ruth
Thanks for the words! I’m reading Matthew, and boy, the whole Bible is intense! I just finished reading Job- most epic story, and it really made me think- What am I giving up for God?
Thanks.
Hello there.
I’ve been a big fan of 10th Avenue North for years, when a friend of mine happened to have your first two cd’s back in 2007…I think. Anyhoo, I love the older songs from…
-Don’t look back and Speaking of Silence,
I was wandering where i could score these cd’s? I was told at LifeFest in Oshkosh, Wisc to contact you guys and this is the only way I know how. Hopefully you will read this and email me back.
Okay great. Thanks and you guys rock my socks off!
-Sarah
I had a similar discussion with me third graders last spring about the many ways we are commanded to pray. I think it boils down to motive and purpose. We need to pray with others because where 3 or more are gathered our prayers are powerful. However, the Matthew passage reminds us that we need to have alone, private time in prayer also. If our motive is to build relationship with Jesus, then what better way to walk in deeper intamacy with Our Savior and Lord than to have regular quiet, alone times with Him.
Loved it too!
well, that is a very contradicting statment. i think you’re 100% right on this one. i’ve never actually thought about my actions in this light before. so thank you for the insipration to stop boasting about my good deeds.
thank you. i literally just read the same verses in my daily devotions and i was confused, but your posting helped me sort it out a bit. :) God is good!!!
Humility is the key to the Christian walk. It’s what brings us to be saved in the first place. And we will continue to have to battle our pride, arrogance, and insecurity, and the only way we can come out on top, is if God is the one on top. We all need to learn, and fight to be humble. I recommend to you all the book by Andrew Murray titled “Humility”. Very deep book and sometimes even hard to comprehend. But it deffinately teaches what humility is.
Thank you, Jeff, for sharing. I don’t really know what else to say. But you are absolutely right on, at least in my view. We, as sinners, just want people to think we are great, which is why we tell people those things. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I really appreciate it.
Jesus loves you all
WOW, what a blessing i was just dealing with that challenge.. i suppose if things are heard .. then they are heard. Im saying that this whole post meant to me that if your are praying for other out loud fine then.. but lets say if u donated money don’t go around the world announcing it. Thats our dooty to help those in need. Also , we must understand compared to what god did thats just one chissel of a big glacier. Its like running around saying your breathed.. we are supposed tooo.. god expects this from us. amen , bless all
Hey my LOST buddy,
You’re right on with this. I always wondered that, didn’t quite understand, show some things and keep quiet about others, I understand now though, things I keep quiet God knows, and that is all that matters. I truly don’t care what others think, you know what I mean. I do; however, walk around the office singing TAN songs, Kutless, Jeremy, Aaron; and I find my coworkers are humming along with me…I like to picture Jesus looking down on us with a smile on his beautiful, precious face, and half these people don’t even know Jesus.
I believe you will pray, I’m sure you know where your money is going and perhaps you will fast, in some way. You’re a good man Charlie Brown Owens. God bless you, Love you, Laurie S. P.S. This picture of you was taken in Manhattan - best day of my life. Take care bud, and keep quiet (smile)
I love the thoughts! I need reminded of this so very much. Made me think of Christ’s words to the disciples in the very next chapter. “You will recognize them by their fruits.” The fruit that the Spirit, dwelling in a believer; brings forth is that of love, joy, peace, and the following in Gal. 5:22-24. The ideas of fasting are only purely done when these are the motives. Love motivates prayer for and with others. Self-control can be manifest through fasting. Giving can be done in unselfish kindness. This motivation by the Spirit gives us NO room to be prideful for any of our actions as we in and of ourselves would not do them at all. We would be selfish. At the end of the passage in Galatians it says “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This is “true and undefiled before God”.
Thanks!
Wow! This really made a lot of sense, Jeff. I always struggled with the same thing. It’s confusing trying to figure out what to do when everything seems to cancel each other out. Thank you very much for those words. It really opened my eyes to a lot.
I love the honesty in this post.
It’s so awesome to read about someone else who’s reading the Word, not completely getting it sometimes, but trusting God to reveal it.
Our God is so mysterious…and so incredibly awesome :)
Loved it!
Really good insight! Yeah I have been thinking about ths lately, I think another point to why we do things like tell people or share the wonderful things we do, is because we dont feel accepted ourselves, as far as with God and others. Like we think somewhere deep down, “Ooh look at me, I must really be a christian, or God must really love me now, or even some self-righteousness can come out of it, from my experience. We think that by doing good works, we are more accepted, when in all actuality, we are accepted as is. It says in the new testament and old, Abraham Believed, and it was counted to him as righteousness. Also in Galatians 4 it talks about recieving the spirit of adoption. That kicks out the orphan spirit!! An orphan spirit is what we get when we have experienced some sort of rejecton or abandonment, and leaves us thinking “well If I could just be a better person, then I would be loved more.” I think once we get a grip on this, and that we are accepted fully and completely, then we wont have to do works for approval, we will know we already have it, from God. Lord bless you, and may God give you deep deep revelations of his fatherly love, as you seek him more and more.
Thank you. I need to work on my humbility. I need to hear that 24/7.
I had once heard a comment about living somewhere where you couldn’t openely confess that you were a Christian, that by your lifestyle others would know. I think this can relate to what you’re discussing. That we out to “preach without ceasing using words only when necessary” that the love of Christ is our motive. We shouldn’t have to use words to proclaim that we live for Christ, we shall be a city on a hill by the way we shine apart from it, and God bless America, for the freedom we have to tell others of Him :)