54. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - What is important to God? Part 1

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

All of these commands, which pull our focus away from self and toward God, promise a reward. We all need motivation, a purpose to work for, and a goal to reach. Our reward is either on earth or in heaven. Therefore, just as salespersons treat their customers in a special way in order to increase sales, so we must have a specific reason for our spiritual activities.

            Why do you read the Bible? Is it to fulfill a religious duty? Do you read it mindlessly, not understanding what you read, or do you have the purpose of trying to understand God’s ways and to learn what He has in mind for you? Do you think of the Father when you read His Word? When you pray, what do you want to accomplish? Do you want God to see that you are religious and are obeying His command to pray? Do you want to be able to tell your friends that you pray because they do it too? What is the purpose of prayer?

Do you pray to get results or a reaction from the living God? What are you living for? Do you live to satisfy your desires and to see how much you can get from this present life? Do you live for the joy of having your family around you and for fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, or are you concerned about eternity?

What does the Lord think of you? What rewards has He set aside for you to receive one day at the judgement seat? What preparations are you making for the next billion-plus years?

            Many Christians believe we must only do our duty because of God’s love for us and because we need to please Him. I think this belief causes passivity and apathy in the church. This mindset says once you have done your love-duty, you’re okay.

The Lord created us and knows exactly what motivates us. Most of us are motivated by incentives. Why would the Kingdom of God be different? Each condition or expectation from God is linked with the promise of a reward. Many religious people will say that Christians should not do good works in exchange for rewards, but if the Lord promised the reward, then what is wrong with that?

The greatest motivation for doing things God’s way is the thrill of experiencing His co-operation in the form of anointing. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” When we act in faith expecting the Lord to work with us, He is pleased by our faith and eagerly co-operates with us. Then we are thrilled by the experience of His anointing. This thrill is sufficient reward but will be followed by an eternal reward as well.

The next two verses of the Sermon on the Mount are integral to our study on fasting. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal,” (Matthew 6:19, 20). With this we can read the following passage: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple,” (Luke 14:26). The former relates to material goods and the latter to relationships that can hinder God’s purposes for us. To be continued

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