Monday's SOAP - Matthew 6:1-8

 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. ² When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. ³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
⁵ “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. ⁶ But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
 ⁷ “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. ⁸ Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

S(cripture) - But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

O(bservation) - Jesus offers two words of wisdom concerning giving and praying.  He cautions his listeners to not be glory seekers. "Don't toot your own horn."  Some have said that this passage teaches us to not be public with our giving and our praying.  I think there is almost a whole generation that has been silent about the good that they've done.  My grandparent's generation never talked about giving or praying.  But that is not what Jesus was getting at.  Otherwise, Jesus was contradicting himself in Matthew 5:16.  Jesus was really getting at motivation - do you do good to bring glory to yourself or do you do good to bring glory to God?  BIG difference.  Don't be like hypocrites who on the outside are doing good, but on the inside are filled with pride and stone hearts.

A(pplication) - It's important to examine my heart, even when doing good.  I must recognize that God gives me grace to do good - no boasting.  No self-glory seeking.  I also need to remember that Jesus said "when."  Giving to the poor and praying are not optional - they are expected.  It's time to pray.

P(rayer) - Abba,  Guide me into humility that when I give and pray I point others to you.  I want to let my light shine.  I want to let your light reflect off me.  Amen.