We’re recently started a new series called “reset”. In the first week, we talked about how Jesus makes it possible to reset all of life, giving us a fresh start in life that impacts every key area. We’re going to look at many of these in depth, and this week we see how Jesus resets our use of money.
Have you ever dramatically changed your priorities around money?
Some examples would be at the birth of a child – people usually budget for fewer restaurant meals, and more diapers. Suddenly RESPs and life insurance all become more important.
On news of a serious Illness, if one’s future earnings are suddenly in doubt, spending priorities change. Or in a recession, when jobs are being lost, and investments are losing money.
On a nicer note, getting a new job can mean a new budget with less debt, and some important expenses finally covered.
There are many more examples, not always tragic, but following that usual pattern. New priorities in life get reflected in how we spend our financial resources.
Sometimes we realize it should have been this way all along, and have our eyes opened. We look back now at some financial choices in our past, and realize we were being short-sighted, lazy, cheap or any number of other missteps.
Sometimes we should have known better at the time, other times we couldn’t have known better, just lack of experience and wisdom.
Following Jesus is meant to be that kind of moment where you completely reassess, reset life, including finances.
Quote: Our chequebooks and appointment books say as much about our faith as our prayerbooks.
Question: What kind of life event would make you completely reassess your finances?
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Matthew 6:5-13 says “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
(Matthew 6:5-13 ESV)
First, Jesus indicates prayer is a good thing.
He says “when you pray” – not “if you like that kind of thing”
It was expected - 3 times a day for devout Jews. Jesus’ followers were probably no different.
So what’s his problem? Is it that hypocrites stand to pray? No – normal.
Is it that they pray in synagogues and street corners? I could see street corners, but why would praying in synagogue be an issue?
Posture and place are even okay...so what is the problem?
Motivation is the problem.
They are not praying in public to help others know something about God - they are helping others know something about themselves. That they're good, holy, spiritual people, or at least moreso than others.
Using prayer like a tool to get ahead in society. For power and influence.
When he says not to pray like those people, don't apply this as rigid legalism, where Jesus is saying no one should ever pray where anyone else will ever know. That would be pretty hard to do! And Jesus didn’t follow that.
This is to do with private prayer.
Christians are still allowed to pray as a group.
It’s different, and permitted…in fact, encouraged.
When Jesus taught them to pray in this passage, with the Lord’s Prayer, he started OUR Father.
So his issue is when people making private prayer public, not to teach others about Jesus, not to pray to God with other Christians, but to make themselves look good, or make other people look bad.
Question: Have you ever said a prayer, and not really meant it, or simply prayed because someone asked you to? How did it feel?
