When Jesus says, ‘The poor in spirit’, ‘those who mourn’ and ‘the meek’ are blessed, he affirms Micah’s summary,
‘He has shown you …what is good … to walk humbly with your God’
Micah 6v8
Jesus both taught and lived this. There is a difference in attitude between those who-
love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
Matthew 6v5
and those who-
go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
Matthew 6v6
Pride invests in developing identity and gaining sway over others. Image and message are key to influencing others. Jesus calls this characteristic of our age hypocrisy, or acting.
Jesus is expressing a difference between those who live for what is seen and those who live for the Kingdom of heaven. He goes on,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus is looking for people who have a heart for him. Those caught up with what can be measured are subtly diverted from Jesus to measurable outcomes. Those whose treasure is in heaven let go of what is measurable because Jesus himself is their treasure. In a world that insists on measurements, this is an act of faith.
This is challenging for anyone in ministry. How are you doing?
Photo by Gilles QUERTIER