January 16

Matthew 6:1-4 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

1"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them..."

2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others."

4 "...so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Observation

Please be fully aware of your natural tendency to seek an immediate reward (thanks to the hypocrites as a good example for this human nature); focus your heart on the opportunity to share what you have with the ones in need right in front of your eyes, and do not look past them to see if there are others who will give you any recognition for your deed. Even your Father in Heaven sees you in secret...

Application

In the movie, "District 9", Wikus (the main human character), who was partially transformed into an alien, was determined to get the "fluid" for the aliens but went ballistic when Christopher (the main alien character) promised to come back in 3 years to transform Wikus back into human again. (Sorry to throw you off here, but you might have to watch the movie when you get a chance.) As I was chuckling at this scene, I was also trying to grasp the difference between "immediate" and "3 years". When he was fully aware that other greedy humans were after him and his life for a potentially exponential amount of money they can make, it's just tooooooooooo much! It's only a movie, and though it wasn't about being recognized by others about his good deed, I thought there was a connection here about "immediate" rewards.

More relevant insight into this passage pertaining to myself is that sometimes I find myself becoming part of "other people", rewarding myself with pride for what I have done for others in need. It's the "hypocrite" living in me, and this hypocrite that lives in me is harder to deal with than trying not to be like the "hypocrites" referenced by Jesus. Is that the trumpet sound inside of me that I hear at times, though no one around me may hear...?

Prayer

Lord, let it be engraved in my heart that everything I have is and comes from you and that it's an opportunity you provide for me to "share" and not to "give"; you're the Giver, and I am only a "sharer" of what you give. Let me not seek reward, be it immediate or distant, for seeking a reward itself becomes a stumbling block to being the follower of Jesus. Let my compassion not be overshadowed by pride or haughtiness in me, being thankful that I can be a sharer of what you give. In Jesus' name, Amen.

--Julius Bhang