How Not To

Matthew chapter six is Jesus' How Not To chapter: How not to give (vss. 1-4), how not to pray (vss. 5-15), how not to fast (vss. 16-18), how not to save (vss.19-24), and how not to worry (vss. 25-34).

Jesus didn't urge his audience to give, pray or fast. It was a given that they would, part of their cultural DNA. However, he did encourage them to consider why they were giving, praying and fasting. He wanted them to remember their audience and their motivation. If they were doing those things to be seen by people, to gain honor for themselves, then they were sadly missing the point. You mean if I give a thousand dollars to the church from wrong motives it won't do the church any good!? It will do the church a lot of good; it just won't do you any good. I know, in this passage, Jesus was talking about giving to the poor, not giving to the church, but I think the point holds.

In the next section Jesus talks about building wealth. He explains that putting one's trust in treasures that wear out, rust out, or can be stolen, is risky (and foolish) business. Jesus is in no way telling his followers not to make provision for the future, but teaching them there's more to life than Ferraris and stock portfolios.

The basic message of verses 25-34 is that if God has given us life, do we really think he'll shortchange us on the basics necessary to sustain life? If he takes care of the birds, will he not take even better care of us? If the flowers of the field, which bloom today and are gone tomorrow, are arrayed so beautifully, then are we not even more precious in his sight? Besides, worry does absolutely no good anyway. The trick is seeking first the kingdom, and living life one day at a time.

An interesting feature of this passage is a statement that at first take seems to contradict a statement from the previous chapter. 5:16 reads: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 6:1 says: Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

The first verse encourages us to engage in good behaviors so that God will be praised. The second warns us not to parade our good behaviors before people to gain that praise for ourselves.

The questions we've got to ask are: 1) Who is my audience? and, 2) What is my motivation?