[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 6
“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.” (Matthew 6:1)
“ 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. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6: 3-4)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
“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 6:24)
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:26-27)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
GIVING TO THE NEEDY (vs. 1-4)
The Pharisees advertised their giving. They had their reward of praise from people on earth. But they no longer have reward from the Father. So, if we give to please God, we shall receive his eternal reward.
PRAYER (vs. 5-13)
Private prayer should be secredt, sincere and systematic. Do not be like the hypocrites who are praying for show. Do not keep on babbling like the pagan for the Father knows what you need before you ask. Let us follow the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer. Remember to forgive others so that the Father will also forgive us.
FASTING (vs. 16-18)
Fast not to show to men, but only to our Father who will reward us.
TREASURES IN HEAVEN (vs. 19-24)
Wealth on earth is temporary. Do not live for things that capture your heart, divide your mind and control your will. No one can serve both God and money. So, put God first and serve Him as your master.
DO NOT WORRY (vs. 25-34)
Do not worry about what you eat or drink. If God provides for the birds of the air and clothes lilies of the field, He will also satisfy your needs. Do not worry about tomorrow because each day has enough trouble of its own (vs. 34). Instead, “seek His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well (v. 33)
REFLECTION:
GIVING – The motive of our giving is to please God and not to seek praise from men. God only allows one reward and the eternal reward in heaven is more precious than immediate reward on earth.
PRAYING – Prayer is secret fellowship with God. Do not pray to be seen and heard by others. Do not pray in mere empty repetitions with sin in the heart. Follow the pattern of the Lord’s prayer by putting God’s concerns first and do not forget to forgive others.
FASTING – True fasting is of heart not just the body. So when we fast, it is our relationship to God which must be keep secret and not for men to applaud.
WEALTH – Store up treasures in heaven. In everything, put God first and the material things will be taken care of by Him. Serve God, not money, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (v. 21)
WORRYING – Do not worry about material things in life. Instead, let God be your priority in your money, choices and decisions. Have time of prayer and reading of His word to feed your spiritual needs. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and all theses things will be given to you as well” (v. 33)[:]