Lent
February 29, 2020
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
‘Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. –Matthew 6:1-6
Reading this scripture amid political campaigns is ironic at best. Each candidate tries to sell him or herself as the best for the office for which they are running while not looking like a self-serving person. The scripture above deals with exactly that question. We are called to be a role model without being arrogant over overbearing. How do we do that?
Our scripture suggests several ways of representing Christ without trying to be holier than others.
In everything we do know who we serve and do all we do in Christ name and for his sake. A favorite old song of mine describes God as the solid rock on which we are to anchor our lives. Be very sure, be very sure your anchor holds and grips the solid rock*.
I more and more think the love of money is the root of all evil**. Setting an example regarding how we use our personal money and how we support the church is challenging in our world today. I had elderly frugal Mennonite friends who by the time they reached their 80’s had decided that whenever they bought something for themselves, they would purchase the same item and give it to someone else. If they bought a new kitchen stove, they bought two and gave the other away. I knew another couple whose goal was to do a reverse tithe by donated 90% and living on 10% of their income. Neither of these couples lived flamboyant lives nor did they brag about what they were doing, yet their way of being was apparent in their joy of giving.
Following the school shooting in Florida some of the students who survived were offended by many leaders who offered thoughts and prayers but no tangible action to curb the gun violence in our country. Prayer is not our to do list to hand to God each day but our communion with God to gain guidance regarding, among other things, doing justice in our world today.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we lose sight of our priorities in serving you, get caught up in the love of money, or expect you to fix all the evil in our world without the use of our hands and feet, bodies and minds. Amen.
*From the hymn In Times Like These by Ruth Caye Jones see at http://adventisthymns.com/lyrics/593-in-times-like-these
**See 1 Timothy 6:10
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.