Scrolling
Image: Craig Adderley https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-using-smartphone-1670035/
Scrolling through various feeds on a smartphone can be addictive. I confess that there have been a few occasions when I have spent far too long viewing random posts.
It’s so easy to get engrossed by them. Some are funny or clever whilst others are educational or informative. But many are dull, weird or just pointless!
The other day I saw someone walk from their house to their car, and because it had snowed, they videoed the walk – which was all of 20 seconds!
There seems to be a growing obsession with documenting every aspect of life and posting it online for all to see.
This is in sharp contrast to the teaching of Jesus. Chapters 5-7, in the book of Matthew in the Bible, is known as ‘The sermon on the mount’, and it’s probably Jesus’ greatest speech. In chapter 6 Jesus says…
“Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
As the chapter continues, Jesus listed three things to do ‘in secret’: giving money, prayer and fasting.
Jesus said that if these three things are done in secret, God the Father sees, and will reward the person for doing them this way. I have wondered what this reward is and when will it be given?
Jesus’ teaching was counter-cultural to what was going on at that time. In each case he referred to ‘hypocrites’ who did these things very publicly, elevating their status. In other words they wanted/liked to be seen to be doing good.
This was not God’s way, and I believe is still the case today. Giving money, prayer and fasting are all good things to do, but how they are done is just as important to God.
Doing them in secret masks the individual, and in the case of giving money, blesses the receiver and honours God.
When prayer and fasting are done in secret, it is just between that person and God. It does not promote them or expose others.
In a world of 24/7 online content overload, let me encourage you to do things differently - the Jesus way. Be someone who gives money, prays and fasts in secret.
God bless you:)
Gary Bastin
Hope Community Church leader