Matthew 6:1-4

The Right Side up Life / Matthew 6:1–4

This morning we see a passage where we are called to “practice our righteousness” and in this case, giving to the poor. But it is not just that we do it, it is how we do it. That we are not called to announce what we are doing to the world but to give in secret so that God, who is our audience, sees and responds.

Matthew 6:1 ESV

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

The only way we know how to make sense of the world is by telling stories. That is the way we are created and the way it has always been.

What kinds of stories do you like to tell others about yourself?

Our stories are played out in our day to day lives. Each action represents something bigger than us.

We have faith, but we have to work it out in our lives. We practice it by the way that we engage with our neighbor and co worker.

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

how have you seen others practicing righteousness in your life?

Matthew 6:2–4 ESV

“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. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jesus is telling us not only to practice our righteousness but how to do it. He uses the example of giving to the needy. And He tells us that when we do that we are not supposed to “sound the trumpet” and let people know.

This is hard for us to engage with because we like the accolade, we like others seeing us. This is the true act of righteousness. Not that we do it, but that we do it for the other, not for us.

Tell about a time where you were tempted to story sell instead of story tell

We are called this morning to Be very careful about what role you are playing.

Your Story in Christ is always the best story

› We are left w a choice. We either have to continue to compete for the attention we think we deserve or we need to receive the attention we have already been given by God

How has God invited you to engage with Him directly lately? How is He calling you back to Himself?