Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Showing Off is Sinful!

I don't like the videos of people in shopping centers or on the street paying for someone else's groceries. These seem like "show-off" acts to me since they are not even discerning whether or not people need it. I believe when we give like that it ought to be in secret and if there is a real need.

Just making yourself feel good momentarily while getting praise from others for it, does not mean it is a selfless act. Often good deeds are for self aggrandizement. God hates this kind of giving and says that we have our reward already it will not count in heaven.

I also am a little appalled when ball players get out on the field and bow down in public, when they could have done it in the locker room. I wonder what a ball player is praying for when he does this? Is he praying to win the game or to be a better player or even worse is he praying to impress those in the stand. If he is praying for anything but the salvation of the people in the stands, then he is probably just a show off.

Matthew 6:1-8 "6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 But when you [b]give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

Many people love themselves for their good deeds but those deeds don't save them.

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