I totally get how you feel and I feel the same way. This is one of the ways i think growing up in the church sometimes feels like a disservice. Not knowing if everything your doing is the "right thing to do" is the thing that gives me the most anxiety. I know grace exists for mistakes, but sometimes if feels like the stakes are higher when your trying to doing something good, rather than simply doing something you're not supposed to do.
One way to alleviate the fear of being merely performative, which Jesus himself recommends here, is to keep *some* of what you do secret- that way, it can't possibly be for the praise of man
@@natorousab 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? ' ... Do you see the rub?
I do- it is scary to think that we might be judged and found wanting despite our efforts, even if we do have assurance that those who receive Christ's sacrifice won't be (Romans 8:1)
I would say, if you obey Jesus here, your personal motives evaporator, and they become pure motives that shine on all those around you. Obedience to the Word of the LORD requires faith! Exercising that faith in the way Jesus teaches makes that faith truly alive! It’s like tapping into the vine of John 15. Sometimes there will be situations where you must do something with others around, but if what you are doing requires a sacrifice on your part to help others, it’s golden. Example in point: you give a stranger CPR when no one else wants to, or you jump in front of an oncoming train to rescue a person about to be hit, or you swim out into the rip current on a board to pull someone from the water. Other times it’s easy to keep righteous deeds private, and doing so preserves the dignity of the other person. Giving to different charities for example, or praying for and asking for blessing upon your enemies in your prayer closet. The very act of obedience purifies motive!
Looking forward to this. My nephews are starting to ask questions, and just last night we were talking about Jesus calling the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites...and I used the incorrect definition. I've learned much listening to these podcasts and still have so much more to learn. Always grateful for God's way of speaking to us and ya'lls work to clarify His Word.
I would say if we do as Jesus teaches here, we may not necessarily have the right motive, but we will have the right type of faith, a living faith. It may or may not lead the heart to the right motive, but it’s a start. Keep all your good deeds of your right hand from the left and the deeds of the left from the right! That means keep them from family and friends, acquaintances and political figures, or anyone on earth or in Heaven save the Heavenly Father alone, who sees all, yet no man can see and live!
So, I get hung up on how I feel after I do something good... I like the feeling, afterwards, and I believe that God "honors me". And then for out of nowhere, I feel guilty for liking that feeling. Like I am doing something to get that honor from God instead of doing good because it helps another---am I making sense?
Hi there! I’m not your pastor, but I am a pastor, so I hope this is helpful to you. If I’m reading your comment right, you’re concerned about pride and doing good things for good motives. First of all, you’re already doing good to the Lord by examining your motives 😊 I have 2 thoughts 1. You’re no better or worse off by feeling feelings; following Jesus isn’t grounded in feelings (though emotions truly are gifts from God), following Jesus is grounded in obedience and love 2. When you feel good for doing good, go before God and give him thanks and credit for how he’s changing you into a new human; God gets the credit in that place, you don’t have to worry about stealing from him when you thank him and credit him with what he does through you. I hope that helps! 😊
I get it. Constantly examining our motives leads to doubting them. I guess all we could do is pray that we had the right motivation in private thereafter.
