20150819 GOOD EYE BAD EYE

GOOD EYE BAD EYE

Matthew 6:22-23 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  (23)  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

There is much said about spiritual blindness and sight in the scriptures. Let us look at these two verses in light of what Jesus has said thus far in this chapter.

A good eye looks to give as quietly as possible because someone has a need. It looks to pray secretly because it sees its own need for the Father daily and the same need for its siblings. It looks to forgive quickly because it sees that it has been forgiven. It looks to fast quietly because it knows how much it needs the Father. And that eye is wide open and the light of God shines into the body through that eye and to it God gives His reward in His time.

A bad eye looks to be admired and to receive the praise of men. It gives with much fanfare when others are watching. It prays in public with many words and much false humility for the sake of those listening. It watches through a squinted eyelid for others to get the retribution coming to them and even looks in a conniving and secret manner for ways to bring it about. It fasts with a long, sorrowful face groaning about its sacrifice for

“the sake of God.” All the while its lids are barely slit so it can keep a watch on who is recognizing and adoring him as some great, sacrificing guru of the faith. That eye thinks it is letting in light, but it is only darkness that enters, a very loathsome dank darkness. The only reward it will see is the praises of those caught up in man worship. In the end those rewards will be as empty as the darkness that fills its heart.

The good eye is always looking to the Father and seeking Him and His Kingdom. The bad eye is always looking out for itself.

Father in heaven, be our eye doctor today. Search the motive of all we do and cleanse it, make it pure and holy. Wash all impure motives from our eyes and hearts. Do laser surgery if necessary, but give us eyes that are holy and wholly given over to You and Your purposes and then our lives will be filled with Your light for Your glory. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

20150806 WHY ARE YOU GIVING?

WHY ARE YOU GIVING?

Matthew 6:1-6 "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.  (2)  When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.  (3)  But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  (4)  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  (5)  "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.  (6)  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

We discussed this somewhat when we looked at 5:16. It’s important to note that we are dealing with two different Greek words here. In 5:16 the word is ἔργον- ergon and expresses the idea of work, as in doing a really good job at what you do. The word here in chapter 6 is ἐλεημοσύνη- eleēmosunē and is translated better as “alms” or deeds done, or gifts given to the poor.

As is the case with most of this message from the mount, Jesus is again dealing with matters of the heart. The question we are to put to ourselves is, “Why am I giving? Why am I praying?” If the answer is, “To impress those watching,” then our heart is not right. Because our hearts so often deceive us it is best to do these things secretly. Then we can look forward to the Father’s blessing and reward.

This is not to say we should be legalistic about this and refuse to give because someone is watching or might see. Nor, that we should refuse to pray aloud when called upon in public worship. Again we must walk in the Spirit and pray for God to lead even our motives to be holy. Psalms 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Father in heaven, thank you for the ability to bless others. May we be found faithful in our giving and our praying and may these acts of love be out of pure hearts. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!

GETTING EVEN

GETTING EVEN

Matthew 5:38-42 "You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'  (39)  But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.  (40)  If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.  (41)  If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.  (42)  Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.

Exodus 21:24 “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,”

In our passage today Jesus expounds on the “Law of Retaliation” or what we might call “The Law of Getting Even.” Mankind’s problem with getting even has always been that what we really want is to be ahead. The law of an eye for an eye was given, in part, to keep people who had been wronged or injured from going beyond what was just. In other words you are not allowed to lop off someone’s arm because they pinched your finger in a door. But the law did allow one to get even. Slap my face and I get to slap yours and then we are even.

This law was also a warning to one who would do injury to another. “If I kill my neighbor, I will be killed. If I lose my temper and poke out my neighbor’s eye I’m going to have an eye poked out.”

What Jesus is pointing out to us is a better way. Rather than lowering ourselves to the tactics of an evil person accept the injury and offer the other cheek. Don’t demand to be “even.” Demand to be better, to be like Christ in your response to others. Don’t pay insult for insult. Instead, show love and forgiveness and forbearance.

If someone sues you don’t just do what the law requires. Give more than what is demanded. Roman law allowed a soldier to demand aid from the Jewish people for a distance of one mile. If he asked a Jew to carry his armor that Jew was compelled to carry it for one mile. A Roman mile was a thousand paces. At the end of the mile most would cast down the load and grumpily walk away. Jesus command of love would cause us to “go the extra mile.” Imagine, you are in that situation and instead of counting steps, you carry the soldier’s armor with a smile and joyfully share your faith. Before you know it you’ve gone two miles or further and the seed of the Gospel is sown in the heart of that soldier and perhaps he will become a brother in Christ.

Move that scenario up to modern day. Your lost slave driver of a boss asks, or demands that you work longer on a project. You have a choice. You can gripe to everyone about your plight. You can refuse and possibly lose your job. You can do just enough to satisfy the bare minimum of the task. Or, you can do your best at the task with joy as if you are doing the task for God instead of for man. If you take the last approach you are again sowing the seeds of the Gospel and you are honoring your heavenly Father.

I don’t believe this to be a call to pacifistic martyrdom. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” As the verse above states we are to provide for our families and I believe that includes protection. There came a point in Paul’s sufferings that he did defend himself as a Roman citizen (Acts 21:39).

That being said, as in all of life we must walk in the Spirit. He will give us direction in each situation as to whether we need to defend ourselves or if we are to submit to an evil person.

Let me suggest an exercise to help us with this. We live in a very sarcastic age. We often react to one another with criticism and sarcasm and biting insults. Today, make an honest effort to respond to each individual, situation, and even news reports with love, prayer and your best effort for God’s glory.

Ephesians 4:28 “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.”  It would be good if we could work with this thought in mind, “Work, so you may have, so you may give.” If that were more our mindset we would not often have to turn the beggar away empty handed.

Father in heaven, Jesus came and showed us a new and better way. It is so easy for us to go with the flow of society by demanding our rights and by demanding that we be even. Fill us with Your love and power to walk in Your love. May others be drawn to the truth of Who You are by our lives of sacrifice and love. Give us grace to respond the way Jesus would respond in each situation this day. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!