For. His. Glory: Our True Motivation
In Matthew 6:1-8, Jesus teaches us about the stark contrast between living for earthly praise versus living for God's glory. This powerful passage challenges us to examine our motivations and shows us what authentic kingdom living looks like.
The Danger of Living for Human Approval
Jesus warns against practicing righteousness simply to be seen by others. He uses two specific examples - giving to the poor and praying - to illustrate how people often perform religious acts to gain attention and praise from others rather than to truly honor God.
The Pharisees would make a show of their giving and prayers, even having trumpets blown to draw attention to their "good deeds." But Jesus says these people "have their reward" - meaning the temporary praise of others is all they'll receive.
What Does Authentic Kingdom Living Look Like?
True kingdom living is characterized by three key elements:
It's Active - Kingdom living requires a response and intentional choices to live differently
It's Humble - Our focus should be on glorifying God, not ourselves
It's Prayerful - We approach God with genuine hearts, not to impress others
The Power of Humble Prayer
Jesus contrasts the proud prayer of a Pharisee with the humble prayer of a tax collector: "God have mercy on me, a sinner." This simple, honest prayer was more pleasing to God than the Pharisee's lengthy, self-righteous speech.
Our prayers don't need to be perfect or eloquent. God desires genuine communication from humble hearts that recognize their need for Him.
Life Application
Consider these questions as you seek to live a kingdom-focused life:
Are your "good deeds" motivated by a desire for others' approval or genuine love for God?
How can you practice more humility in your daily interactions?
Is your prayer life authentic or performative?
This week's challenge: Identify one area where you've been seeking human approval and intentionally redirect that energy toward glorifying God instead. Look for opportunities to serve others humbly without drawing attention to yourself.
Remember: Kingdom living is not about impressing others or earning God's favor - it's about living in humble response to what Jesus has already done for us.
Check out more resources about Matthew 6:1-8 here: https://app.sermonsend.com/sermon/cornerstonesavoy/matthew-61-8-for-his-glory