When you help someone out, do you expect something in return?
Last week when we looked at Matthew 6:1-8, we saw Jesus teaching us that when we give to others, we shouldn’t draw attention to ourselves, and when we pray, we shouldn’t do it for the sake of being seen by other people. There isn’t anything wrong with giving or praying publicly in itself. The problem is when we do these things in order to receive recognition, admiration, or approval from others. Jesus is exposing the hypocrisy of doing something that appears righteous on the outside while our motivation is focused on ourselves.
When growing up, I remember one time someone asked me why I had a hard time doing kind things for other people. I remember telling them that I was worried about what my intentions were. Was I doing something kind because I truly cared about that person, or was I hoping they would like me or that they might do something good for me later on? That conversation eventually led us to both start thinking about our own intentions when we do things for others.
This also isn’t an easy lesson to put into practice, because our motives can be subconscious. We may not even realize that we’re looking for recognition or approval. This teaching challenges us to allow God to transform us into people who genuinely love others, rather than constantly thinking about what we can get in return.
Summary by Eric