1.12.2014

Righteous before Men?

"Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matthew 6:1 (NIV)



Today during devotions God put his finger right on one of my sore spots. Matthew 6 makes the same point in several different ways: don't give to the needy publicly; don't pray publicly, don't fast publicly; i.e., seek approbation from God for your spiritual good works, not from men.

I am a chronic men's-approval-seeker. Ever seen a dog rolling in something nasty? That's what it's like - I revel in the thought that others think well of me. I justify it with a million reasons, but in reality, it's as disgusting to God as a dog rolling in filth is to me. 

Wow. 

I'm doing at least two things when I seek man's applause: the things that I make believe I'm giving to God, I'm actually sacrificing to idols; and I'm mentally (even if not outwardly) expropriating glory/recognition that belongs to God.

Yikes!


Lord, please forgive me for being a chronic men's-approval-seeker! Now that you've given me my accurate diagnosis, would you give me your complete cure? Help me to fear God, and not man. Amen.

Excelsior

3 comments:

  1. What are your thoughts on the cure?

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  2. Mental immersion in the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, deliberate efforts to counteract toxic applause-seeking, all motivated and energized by the motive power of the paradoxical Love of Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I could relate to this a lot and was blessed! Jeremiah 9:23, 24

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Sorry - I was getting too many spam comments so I turned on moderation. As long as you're not a bot or a troll, I'll approve your comment :)