Subscribe Daily Bible Study Mailing List Receive Daily Bible Studies directly into your email inbox.
Matthew 6:2-4
Lesson # Matt. 6:2-4
Study Material - Matt. 6:2-4
You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
Matt. 6:2-4
2 'When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 'But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing 4 that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Charitable giving, giving to the church, and such things are an expected result of your spiritual growth. When done in the proper way, benefit and reward is accrued and provided to the believer by God. If done in the wrong way, then no benefit is accrued from God.
The spiritual life is more than just learning Bible doctrine. It is the application of Bible doctrine to your life as well. The doctrine which your learn forms a foundation, a framing structure in your soul which we refer to as your palace or temple that you are constructing in your soul. Your application of that doctrine is the recirculation of that wisdom, and that in turn enhances, or finishes, or provides furnishings to your 'soul' palace. The result in time, is a healthy muscular soul, which is well furnished with the best of the best furnishings, jewelry, etc., that are available. We call these items good works or gold, silver, and precious stones.
In contrast, a soul that has very little Bible doctrine in it, looks to the sin nature for its sources of good, human good. And mans righteousness, or human good is useless in Gods sight. Mans righteousness is worse than vomit and/or used filthy menstrual rags as it is appropriately described in various passages. Now if you were going to the Prom, what would you wear? Well of course you would prefer pearls, and diamonds and gold in various forms of jewelry with perfume as is appropriate, a nice tux or evening gown, and so forth. With everything well arranged you would be received well.
On the other hand what do you suppose the reactions would be if you came to the Prom in your human righteousness attire - covered with vomit, used menstrual rags, dust and dirt. I seriously doubt that anyone would ask you to dance or would even want to be near you. The host would probably have you ejected from the dance and/or even refuse your entrance. And that would be appropriate, too.
God has standards, high standards. God provides you with the assets with which you may build your own palace in your soul, and decorate it. God expects you to acknowledge your actions of sin (confession) to Him, thus cleaning up yourself so that you may be in His presence in a pure and clean heart (soul). God expects you to be generous as He is generous with you. God is the only one who can reward you for your application of His word.
Man cannot reward you for anything that you do. So doing things in life for the benefit of man, with the intentions of being seen by other people in order to gain some good will or to gain a good reputation before men is the same as wearing your vomit and rags to the Prom. If you seek reward from man, expect nothing from God.
God did not place you here on earth to impress mankind. God did not place you here on earth in order to convince people that you are Gods gift to them. God will help all peoples out, regardless of whether 'you' do something or not. God is able to carry on in history whether you live or die. Man is useless, and can contribute nothing to Gods plan. Man cannot add to it. Man cannot deduct from it.
Trying to impress people. Trying to advance ones self by means of gaining the approval of people is a dead end. People are generally impressed by what they see and superficial people are not the kind of support that we need in our spiritual life. They can add nothing to any ones spiritual life.
Your spiritual life is intended to be started in this life and built up with your Bible study and application of same to your life, thus building up your soul. This prepares you for your eternal life. In heaven you will receive your eternal rewards, at the Judgment Seat of Christ (immediately after the rapture), where you will stand before Christ and be evaluated. The wood, hay, and stubble (the production of your sin nature), will be burned away. The gold, silver, and precious stones (the production of your spiritual life), will remain. Some will have a great deal of treasure in their soul and will be rewarded accordingly with great rewards from God. Many will have very little in their soul after all the trash has been burned away, leaving very little basis for reward.
All that we have in this life and beyond comes from God. This is certainly true of the extra things (rewards) we receive from God. When you exercise your personal obligation to engage in charitable activities, whether to your church, to the support of Bible teaching, or to causes that help spread the gospel or doctrine, or to other good causes to help those in need, then do them in private, and more important, do them from within the sphere of your fellowship with God. Do not engage in ulterior motives. Do not engage in promotional or marketing activities. Do not get involved in public events with the intention of promoting yourself by means of public opinion. Seek only Gods approbation and no one else's, for God alone can give you true repayment for your deeds.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
If you enjoy these Bible Studies, please consider making a Donation
Subscribe Daily Bible Study Mailing List Receive Daily Bible Studies directly into your inbox.