| OCR Text |
Show LOOK-LIKE RELIGION Matthew 6: 1-2 I grew up was a hearing about term used to describe recording payola. It what." artist and their agents did to get their records played on certain radio stations. A few years ago, the who world heard about how the governor of Illinois accepting payola highest bidder for the senate seat vacated by Mr. It is an old religious practice Obama. used by the Scribes and a. Here is hojrit worked. Every Monday and Thursday the market would open and the people came to buy their goods. Standing at the crossroads were the was from the Scribes and Pharisees who had come, also, making sure not to have shaved or 1 they wanted everybody to know just how religious they were. Real or not, they came playing like, pretending, for the glory of other men, doing what they did just to be seen. They had what I call "Look-Like Religion." They did what they did so that no matter what was going on on the inside, on the outside they looked like religious people. bathed. . F or So here is Jesus in this Mount of Olives text reminding His followers to be careful, that He knows the real deal. First, be careful how you give. "Take . heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them do not sound ... that e trumpet before £Vt{ the,w-l y. VC-/JvG ... 6 Y may have fV\_lAc..],t' b;;F i.;» glory of me." (1-2) Alms are important because there are people less fortunate than others, people who have needs not 2 a yet{ Cf.'\If1 necessarily some due to any fault of their own, have lost their jobs because of the economy, homelessness, and hungry among our children. Jesus says be care how you give. Men may pat you on the back and celebrate your gift and even even name to be something seen after you but if you of men, you will have no give Heavenly Father. You can get men to give you the glory just by sounding a trumpet when you give your reward of your alms in the synagogues or in the streets. Your heavenly Father is not looking for outward show but your inward commitment. It is not about what other some men see but about what GOld knows. Second, the reminds you to be careful how you pray. "But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the text 3 they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them (7-8) Sure you ought to pray. It is a given that the heathen do: for " ... children of God will call on God. Before you can talk for God, you have to first talk to God and let Him talk back to you. "Pray is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, unto God.". While God is all knowing, we are to tell Him what's on our minds, to walk and talk with HiM like Adam and Eve did. Don't just recite long memorized prayers, standing on the comers, shouting in the synagogue, to be by others from all sides. Stop your vain repetitions, your babbling, your thoughtless chatter. God hears and He already knows. Third, the text is Jesus's reminder to seen 4 be careful how you fast. When you yourself and your appetites do it for deny Godly purposes. Clean yourself up, put on some vaseline, brush your teeth, comb your hair, wear clean clothes. For your fast is not for the sake of others but in the of God for your sake. When you practice "Look-Like name Religion" you will draw your full pay in time and have nothing to collect in eternity. In other words, the people may call you "Rev. Dr. So and So" and God may say "Depart from Me for I don't know you." You don't have to give in the presence of others and keep record of your giving. Nobody but you and God needs to be there when you pray. To appear religious to be acclaimed in religious quarters. ( 5 Nobody really knew when Jesus tum the water to wine, gave the woman living water, gave sight to the blind, or broke the loaves and fish. Pray in your closet. When Jesus prayed He went away to a solitary place. Rather give in secret. Clean up when you fast. Jesus looked the same all the time. 6 |
