Thank you, Jack.
It is very human to extol one's own good deeds to anyone who will listen, and unfortunately, all the more so among a small percentage of Christian "church leaders," although they have taught Bible classes most of their adult lives.
As a child, I used to listen in wonderment as the same three or four individuals would, one at a time, arise during the Sunday morning worship service, to belabor the assembled congregation, with the respective good deeds which each had performed during that week; deeds, which Holy Scripture says, are to be done in secret, to the glory of God, and in the strength that he provides (lest any man should boast), in order that He may reward them.
It sometimes seemed to me like an on-going contest, during which these esteemed individuals would vie for supremacy among themselves, and for the benefit of their audience, each trying to get first dibs with Almighty God, who was, it is quite certain, listening...
For did not Jesus tell us the following in God's Word:
1: "Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no 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: "So that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Matthew 6:1-4
Even as a child I use to wonder if my own Bible could possibly read so differently from these experienced teachers of God's Word as to explain their actions, which were so diametrically disobedient to God's written instructions...
Privately, in my own mind, I labeled it "Show and Tell Churchiosity."
How much more tempting must it be in our present age, with modern technology, to "tweet" one's magnanimous deeds forth to a listening world.
For all those who go to the sanctuary to worship Almighty God, however, the great "I Am," the Triune God who is the Creator of the Universe, God the Father, Jesus God, the Son and God, the Holy Spirit, He is ever present, His love is constant, His love is trustworthy and undeviating, and He can always be found.
Let nothing distract you from worshiping and praising Him.
jack sequim wa wrote:
Thank you for sharing God's words.
Sadly the opposite is believed by the majority of Americans as the God of humanism forges into minds, believing good works cancel out the bad. Church leaders once proclaiming the gospel unto salvation have turn to itching ears in the hopes merging humanism with scripture will fill pews, but only corrupting the living word of God.
God Bless