- a Short Sermon by: Hamir "The Storyteller" Achacoso
Matthew 6:1-7
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
We are in the most Technologically High-tech Age. Most of the people I know has Cellphones. Yeah Cellphones, plural, I mean they have more than 1 mobile unit. Do you have a cellphone? I am not asking if you have a fancy mobile phone or smartphone. Just a Cellphone for communication. I bet you have one or two ;)
Do you still remember that 14 years ago when the cellphone was only for SMS/Text and Call?
How about Facebook or Tweeter Account? I bet you also have one or two ;)
Social Networking is a must nowadays. We can use it to communicate with our friends, long lost friends, classmates, relatives, etc. It is also good for catching up, hearing good or bad news or gossip? Hahahaha funny but true.
Do you still remember when email was the big thing for communication? No Social Networking yet? Email is more convenient than snail mail though.
There is a fad nowadays that people take pictures of food, people, places, happenings, tsunami, crime, tithes, giving to poor, etc and people post these pictures in Facebook / Twitter / Instagram etc.
They post pictures of almost everything. Good or bad, disturbing, scandalous, everything.
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus preached to his disciples and followers about giving. Jesus taught his disciples to give to needy. Yeah you heard it right "Give to Needy". The Gospel is not about us but about others. It is not what can we get but what can we give.
Some people obey this teaching and some neglected / rejected it.
Jesus saw that this High-Tech Generation will come. He said
"3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:3-4
Allow me to paraphrase this and use our modern lingo.
"But when you give to needy, donate to a cause, feed your friends, give to church, donate clothes, feed the hungry, give water to thirsty, do good deeds, give bible, give your trash, etc. Please do not post it in Facebook, Tweeter, Instagram, etc to show the world that you are a modern Pharisee. Taking picture is good for remembrance and memories but showing it off is a different story. God sees our heart. He knows if we give our money which is really a sacrifice or we are just a middle man and giving money or things in behalf of somebody. God sees our hearts. He will bless you more because He is the Real Source of Everything.
Now, may you be blessed and be a blessing to somebody. May you be a comfort to your friends and family. May you give more and more. Grace and Peace and Love to you my friend.
Matthew 6:1-7
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
We are in the most Technologically High-tech Age. Most of the people I know has Cellphones. Yeah Cellphones, plural, I mean they have more than 1 mobile unit. Do you have a cellphone? I am not asking if you have a fancy mobile phone or smartphone. Just a Cellphone for communication. I bet you have one or two ;)
Do you still remember that 14 years ago when the cellphone was only for SMS/Text and Call?
How about Facebook or Tweeter Account? I bet you also have one or two ;)
Social Networking is a must nowadays. We can use it to communicate with our friends, long lost friends, classmates, relatives, etc. It is also good for catching up, hearing good or bad news or gossip? Hahahaha funny but true.
Do you still remember when email was the big thing for communication? No Social Networking yet? Email is more convenient than snail mail though.
There is a fad nowadays that people take pictures of food, people, places, happenings, tsunami, crime, tithes, giving to poor, etc and people post these pictures in Facebook / Twitter / Instagram etc.
They post pictures of almost everything. Good or bad, disturbing, scandalous, everything.
There is a story in the Bible where Jesus preached to his disciples and followers about giving. Jesus taught his disciples to give to needy. Yeah you heard it right "Give to Needy". The Gospel is not about us but about others. It is not what can we get but what can we give.
Some people obey this teaching and some neglected / rejected it.
Jesus saw that this High-Tech Generation will come. He said
"3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:3-4
Allow me to paraphrase this and use our modern lingo.
"But when you give to needy, donate to a cause, feed your friends, give to church, donate clothes, feed the hungry, give water to thirsty, do good deeds, give bible, give your trash, etc. Please do not post it in Facebook, Tweeter, Instagram, etc to show the world that you are a modern Pharisee. Taking picture is good for remembrance and memories but showing it off is a different story. God sees our heart. He knows if we give our money which is really a sacrifice or we are just a middle man and giving money or things in behalf of somebody. God sees our hearts. He will bless you more because He is the Real Source of Everything.
Now, may you be blessed and be a blessing to somebody. May you be a comfort to your friends and family. May you give more and more. Grace and Peace and Love to you my friend.