Matthew Chapter 6
This chapter teaches us to put God first in all that we do. Be it in our faith and service, or in our day to day lives, our focus should be set on Him. In return, we will store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, and He will care for our needs, ensuring that we have enough to live our lives.
In this chapter, the phrase “and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” appears three times (v.4, 6, 18). It tells us to do charitable deeds, pray, and fast in secret for God to see, rather than openly for man to see.
In practising our faith, we have to always be mindful of our intentions. Are we doing things for other people to see? This is something very natural for us to do. As human beings, we desire attention and hope for affirmation. However, this chapter reminds us that if this is our attitude, we will gain our reward on earth, but lose our reward in heaven!
In our prayers, let us reflect on our attitude towards our worship and our service to God. Let us strive to be a faithful servant, wholly focused on pleasing our heavenly Father.
Perhaps one question we should ask ourselves is, why do we do things for others to see?
It could be because our value system needs some readjustment. Perhaps we esteem the treasures of earth more than heaven. However, the next section of this chapter tells us that we should set our minds on things above and focus on laying up treasures in heaven, rather than on earth, for treasures on earth can be destroyed and stolen (v.19).
As appealing as they may be, we need to be willing to let go of the things of the world. We cannot serve two masters (v.24).
However, when we do things for God and not man to see, when we focus on laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, when we choose to serve God and not mammon, one very natural question that follows is: Can we still survive in this world? Will our needs still be met?
Jesus knows our concerns and hence the last past of this chapter encourages us to not worry. Jesus invites us to look to the birds of the air that God has fed, and to the lilies of the field that God has clothed. Our heavenly Father knows what we need, and as long as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will add those things to us (v 32-33).
Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
~ Psalms 127:1 ~
Through the prophet Haggai, God sternly warned the Israelites, who dwelt in panelled houses while the temple was in ruins (Hag 1:4-11).
As a result of not prioritising the things of God, they have sown much but brought in little. They put their wages into a bag with holes! Psalms 127:1 builds on this idea. If God is not on our side, whatever we do will be in vain. It hence makes sense that in all that we do, we should strive to put God first.
It seems ironic but it indeed is true, by putting God first, we can become less busy in the world! By spending more time on the things of God, we will have less to worry about in this world. Let us have faith in God’s providence as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
In summary, this chapter tells us that in all that we do, we do it for God and not for man. We ought to lead a life focused on serving God, a life where God is our only master. If we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, we need not worry about anything else because all our needs will be provided for.
