A profound exploration of Matthew Chapter 6 – What truly matters to God?
The Heart Behind Our Actions: More Than Just Doing Good
Imagine standing before Jesus, excited to share all the amazing things you’ve done for His kingdom, only to realize your motivation was completely off. Scary thought, right?
In Matthew Chapter 6, Jesus delivers a powerful message that cuts straight to the heart of spiritual authenticity. It’s not just about what you do, but why you do it.
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.” – Matthew 6:1
The Danger of Performance-Based Spirituality
Jesus exposes a critical spiritual trap: doing good deeds for human applause instead of divine approval. Have you ever caught yourself seeking recognition for your spiritual acts?
The sermon reveals three key areas where our spiritual motivation matters most:
- Giving: Your generosity should be between you and God
- Praying: Intimacy over performance
- Fasting: A private spiritual discipline
Unpacking the Lord’s Prayer: A Kingdom-First Approach
When Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, He provides a revolutionary model that turns typical prayer on its head. It’s not a shopping list—it’s a relationship.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:9-10
The Prayer Priority: God’s Kingdom First
Notice how the prayer begins and ends with God’s kingdom? This isn’t coincidental. It’s a deliberate strategy to realign our hearts from self-centeredness to kingdom-centeredness.
Want to know a secret? When you prioritize God’s agenda, your personal needs mysteriously find their place.
The Reward System: Heaven’s Accounting
Breaking News: God keeps impeccable records. Every act of genuine love, every silent sacrifice, every prayer whispered in secret—He sees it all.
“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:4
Understanding Spiritual Rewards
Important clarification: Salvation is a gift, not a reward. You can’t earn your way to heaven by doing good works. But God does acknowledge and honor genuine kingdom-minded actions.
Your Kingdom Challenge
Here’s a 7-day spiritual challenge that will transform your perspective:
- Do one anonymous act of kindness daily
- Pray without posting about it
- Give without seeking recognition
- Forgive someone who doesn’t expect it
- Serve without expecting a thank you
- Spend 10 minutes daily in quiet prayer
- Reflect on your true spiritual motivations
Are you brave enough to accept the challenge?