A Year-Long Exploration of the Sermon on the Mount: Week 25

Chapter 25 – From the Heart

 

We live in a very transactional society. We do things in the expectation of something in return, and if we don’t see the benefit or the fruit of the transaction, we are less likely to do again. On the flip side, we have become a culture of people who distrust those who act in pure kindness. There is always a question of why they are doing this, or what do they want for it.

 

Jesus says that when you are giving, praying, and fasting, don’t do it in such a way that is obvious to others that you’re doing these things. Not because we should be ashamed that we are doing them, but that we should be humble about it. Our lives of faith shouldn’t be transactional, and part of the faith is knowing that we may never see the fruition of our giving, our praying, or our fasting. We do these things out of relationship with our neighbour, not relationship with our status or reputation.

 

Abraham Joshua Heschel states,

“A moral deed unwittingly done may be relevant to the world because of the aid it renders unto others. Yet a deed without devotion, for all its effects on the lives of others, will leave the life of the doer unaffected. The true goal is to be what we do…The means may be external, but the end is personal. Your deeds are pure, so that ye shall be holy.” (p. 161)

 

We are called by Jesus to act from our hearts – to love God, to love our neighbours, to love ourselves. Not because we want something in return, but because it’s what we are meant to do. God made us as creatures of love, but society has taught us that what we do means nothing unless someone has noticed and points it out – in recognition, in reward, in accolades. It is becoming increasingly rare that good deeds are done simply because they are good deeds that should be done.

 

Consider how you live your life of faith.

    Do you seek recognition for your actions?

    Do you act because it’s who you are?

    Do you need to see the results of your work?