Last week we looked at the hypocritical pitfall in our path when our motivation for doing good works is self-promotion and glory-seeking instead of doing good simply because God created us in Christ Jesus for this purpose (Ephesians 2:10). We reap our own feeble reward when we seek after the temporary glory given by man instead of giving God the glory for blessing us with the opportunities and provisions that enable us to benefit another person.
Jesus did not stop at good works in His lesson
on potential pitfalls in glory-seeking amongst men; He said a vainglorious
heart can also made evident in our prayers:
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites [pretenders]. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:5-6 NKJV)
Now, you may be thinking, “I’m a woman, I don’t pray publicly” and yes, in regular church
services, studies, and gatherings where men are present you do not, and
rightfully so, but what about at ladies’ bible classes, with your
children/grandchildren, when you’re praying with a fellow sister in Christ who
is in need of encouragement, comfort, or care; these are all public – heard by
others – prayers.
As with all of Jesus’ teaching, all things come
down to a heart issue; we need to honestly examine our hearts and make the
necessary changes so that we can avoid the potential problems He lovingly warns
us of. Are you eager to show off your
eloquence and the carefully curated words and phrases that you think will sound
wonderful to others so they will awe at your “devotion”? Are you praying to
people or are you praying to God, the Father?
Consider the familiar parable of the Pharisee
and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 (please
turn and read that passage).
Two men went to the temple to pray:
A Pharisee, a religious leader in the synagogue
of the Jewish people who were known for their money-hungry ways (Luke 16:14), their political
motivations/need for power (John 11:47-48),
and their hatred of any who were different/or threatened their position of
influence (Luke 18:9, John 12:42-43, also
study the lives of Jesus and the apostle Paul).
A tax collector, a man who was looked down on
with much fear and even contempt because he was employed by the Roman government
to collect unpaid taxes from the people
(Mark 2:15-17, Matthew 11:18-20,
Luke 15:1-7, consider Romans 13:1-7).
The Pharisee “stood and prayed thus with
himself” – did you notice that? With himself,
not to God; his ‘prayer’ was, unbeknownst to his proud heart, not going
further than his voice could carry it. He spent his time thinking he was
informing God of all of his ‘accomplishments’ when in reality he was
only revealing his self-righteous arrogance to all the other men within
earshot.
The tax collector, on the other hand, stood “afar
off” – not in a place to be seen and heard – and would not even raise
his eyes up, but beat his chest and begged God for mercy, because he knew he
was a sinner. He humbled himself before God and begged for lovingkindness and
forgiveness from the only One he can hope to receive it from: God.
Jesus declared that it was the tax collector
who showed himself to be righteous and acceptable before God (“…this man went down to his house justified”
v14) and He finishes His parable with these words: “…everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (v14)
Let’s be careful in our public prayers (amongst women) as well as in our private
prayers, that we are not trying to impress others or God by our words. Let’s
work to have hearts that truly honour God and give him the reverence and
respect He is due, always remembering who He is and who we are before Him, that
it is not our goodness but His goodness
that has allowed us to approach Him and beg for His forgiveness, His mercy and
His grace (Titus 3:3:1-7, Hebrews
4:14-16, 1 John 1:8-10).
You can do it! So can I!!
