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.
"Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Corinthians 15:33
When we hang out with, enjoy and spend lots of time with ungodly people we tend to act like them to be accepted, it is human nature.
It is also true that we hang around those we feel most comfortable with, rather than those who will challenge us to greater holiness. We used to hear a saying years ago that covers this principle. "if you are in the bad crowd, you are the bad crowd."
Those who refuse to be corrected or instructed, have a habit of choosing friends who elevate them, not questioning anything they do, allowing them to feel elevated in their own eyes. They tend to reject anyone who will expose a wrong attitude or thinking, their elevated status in their own minds does not allow them to think anything but positive about themselves. There are those who will even "rage" at us for the slightest correction or rebuke.
Proverbs 11:2 - [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.
Proverbs 16:5 - Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 29:23 - A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Proverbs 27:2 - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Proverbs 26:12 - Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
James 4:6 - But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jeremiah 9:23 - Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:
Philippians 2:3 - [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 John 2:16 - For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Romans 12:16 - [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
If we are secure in our walk with Christ, we are able to look at all sides of ourselves. We can say, "I was wrong" or "that was dumb of me", without flinching. When our goal is to learn all we can about Christ in us, we can look negative comments straight in the face and truthfully evaluate them.
If we cannot see anything negative in ourselves, or take a rebuke from anyone, we have a spirit of pride, there will be no spiritual growth until we can do this. Many people remain spiritual babies their entire lives because they don't care about "being" holy, they only want to "appear" that way, no effort is required, except keeping up a superficial persona. These people are very different at home with family than the rest of the world sees them.
Are you the same everywhere you go, whether alone or in a crowd? Do you act differently depending on which crowd you happen to be with? Those who love God are the same everywhere at anytime, they are steady and steadfast.
1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
Psalm 61:3 "For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy."
Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Those who change their colors like a chameleon depending on who they are with, walk in fear, fear of rejection by those who might find out the "real them."
When we walk with Christ everyday, we can rest in who He is making us, admitting who we are while having joy that God is working on us and we don't have to be anything, He is everything, it's all about Him, every bit of it.
Psalm 136:1-26
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
