Are You Doing the Right Things?

Introduction

Several years ago I asked myself, if I were to leave the Lord. If I were to forsake him, if I were to become unfaithful. What would be the consequences of that decision? What would be the results of that decision? If I left the Lord, what would happen? And the first thing I thought about was my relationship with my wife, Jacqueline. It would be irreparably harm because she’s a faithful Christian, and we no longer would be joined together in that special way as fellow servants of God. We would lose that intimacy, we would lose that closeness. We would lose that working together to gain heaven. And that would be a great loss indeed. But not only that, I thought that, you know, my relationship with my children would not be the same.

And although they may not be of the age that they’re ready to obey the gospel, ten and seven, they certainly have been around long enough that they understand what it means to be faithful to God. They’ve been taught enough to know what it means to be consistent in my service, and they would no longer see me in the same light. They would no longer respect me, they would no longer have the same kind of relationship that they enjoy now with a faithful father in the household. But not only that.

Who are faithful Christians and invested so much of their time and their effort, blood, sweat, and tears into raising my brother and raising me, we would not have the same relationship. We would not have the same closeness because they are faithfully serving God, and I no longer would be doing so and so. I would lose that treasured relationship. But not only that, I think about my brother over in Atlanta and his wife, who’s a faithful Christian as well. And I would lose that relationship. And even at work, I’ve got a few Christians around me, and even those who are not Christian, they know what I’ve stood for over the years. They know what I espoused, they know the values I uphold, and so they would lose respect for me.

So all of these disastrous consequences that would come simply from leaving the Lord. And you probably say, well, that’s a good thing. Because all of that acts as a disincentive, as a deterrent to me leaving the Lord. And while that may be true, I think it’s a double-edged sword, because then it raises the question, why am I faithful to God? Why do I come to services? Could it be? Could it be that this is just a social club, like any social club? And I’ve figured out the rules. And I know how to be in favor. And I know when I need to show up. I know what I need to say. I know how I need to act. And my whole world, this is just a social network, and I’ll do what’s necessary to maintain that social network.

Not that I love the Lord, not that I’m worshiping him from heart, mind, and soul, not that I really love the souls of men, but this is just my social network, and I want to maintain it at all costs. I don’t want to disappoint. I don’t want people to think bad of me. I don’t want people elders calling me and giving me a hard time. And so I just go through the motions. I do what’s necessary to stay in good standing in this social club. And I thought, wow, that’s a dangerous thinking. And it’s dangerous because of this, because at the same time that I’m going through this thought process, I’m being impressed. Well, how often God says it’s not enough for you to simply do the right things.

But God cares why you do them. God cares about the heart that motivates you to do. What is your disposition? What is your mindset? What is your purpose? And so God is not content with just paint by the numbers. Just check it up. I’ve done, I showed up. But it’s He’s concerned about why I showed up. Did you know that we could do all the right things and do them for the wrong reasons? And this is the sad part, and lose our souls. And that’s a sobering thought. And it’s that thought, that realization that has motivated this sermon. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons? Are you doing the right things for the right reasons? Because it is critically important. It is eternally important that we do the will of God from the heart.

That we do it with the right mindset and we do it with the right heart, and we do it with the right mentality. Why is it that God spends so much time telling us how to think about ourselves? Right? Sometimes we’re told to think of ourselves as servants. Sometimes we’re told to think about ourselves as ambassadors. Sometimes we’re told to think about ourselves as soldiers, sometimes slaves, sometimes sons, heirs. What is God doing? He’s telling us that how we think about ourselves, how we view ourselves is critically important to having the kind of relationship with Him that He desires and demands. And so again, be impressed that it’s not just what you do, but it’s what’s going on up here. Why are we doing the things that we do?

1. The Right Reasons in Evangelism

And so let me suggest to you a few things to think about. First of all, are you doing the right things for the right reasons in evangelism? Are you doing the right things for the right reasons in evangelism? You say, well, Kevin, wait a minute. I’m teaching, I’m spreading the word of God. That’s got to be a great thing. God’s got to be happy. How can there be anything wrong with sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Well, let me give you an example, and maybe it’ll illustrate the point. Not one that I’m terribly happy about or proud of. I remember when I was in college. I had an early morning class one day. And I rushed out of my dorm room and went across the bridge.

But at the foot of the bridge, there was something odd on a college campus. Suits and ties.

Who are handing out Bibles, Gideon’s Bibles. And I thought, ooh, yeah. Don’t have time right now. I’ve got to go to class, but I’m coming back. And so I go to my class and I come back, and they’re still there, and they’re still passing out their Bibles. And so I go upstairs and I get my sword, and I come down and I proceed to slice and dice those old men. They don’t know where they’re coming or going. I know how to ask all the questions that are going to have them just crazy. They don’t know what to do. And boy, look at me. I’m defending the truth. I’m continuous urgency for the faith that was once for all the. No, that was pride. That was hubris.

That was a young man that took pride and trying to take down two older men because he thought he knew more. That’s what I’m saying. That’s not doing the right thing for the right reason. Oh, yes, the truth was taught. The scriptures that were referenced, the word that was defended was correct. But the heart that defended it was as wrong as the day is long. And so, are you doing the right things for the right reasons? In evangelism, we have to have the right motivation. We have to have the right heart. In fact, I love Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15. After talking about the placement of evangelists and pastors and teachers, all for our benefit to equip us for the ministry. And we’re supposed to grow and develop and mature.

And part of the mature Christian is to have this mentality. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 15. Ephesians 4, verse 15, but speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ. That’s why we speak the truth. That’s why we share the truth. That’s why we teach our neighbors. That’s why we teach our loved ones, our family members. It’s because we love. We love God and we love them. And so the question for us is do we really love the souls of men? And I asked that question because my wife has a very interesting perspective, and probably there’s some in this audience who have the same perspective, in that she was once in a denomination and spent a lot of time in a denomination before she obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And from time to time, I think because of that background, she’s very sensitive to how Christians talk about people in denominations. And she’s pointed out from time to time, and I think rightly so, that the attitude that we display sometimes in talking about denominational folks is very ungodly. That we make fun of them and we ridicule them and we make sarcastic remarks about what they believe. Sometimes we so stretch and contort what they believe that no sane person would believe that, but we hold that up as the straw man.

And she says, that doesn’t seem right to me. That doesn’t seem to be the attitude that we see displayed by Jesus towards the loss. And in fact, look at Mark chapter 6, verses 30 through 34. Mark the sixth chapter, verses 30 through 34. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons in evangelism? Are you doing the right things for the right reasons in evangelism? Mark chapter 6, verses 30 through 34. Mark chapter 6, verses 30 through 34. Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And he said to them, Come aside by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitude saw them departing, and many knew him and ran their own foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. Now listen to verse 34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion for them. And if I were to stop you there and to tell you that this is a written account of the feeding of the 5,000. And Jesus sees this great multitude, and he has compassion for them. And I were to ask you, why does he have compassion? You said, Because the people are hungry. They need food, and he had compassion for them. But might I suggest to you that that would be incorrect?

Because I’ve cut off the verse before we finished it. Let’s look again in verse 34. And Jesus, when he came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep, not having a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. Our Lord and Savior, on this occasion, when he looks out in the season the multitude, he’s not concerned about empty bellies. He’s concerned about empty souls. He saw these people, he said, these are people like sheep with no shepherd, which is a pathetic sight, let me say that. Sheep without a shepherd don’t know how to protect themselves. They don’t know how to feed themselves, they don’t know how to get water, they don’t know what direction to go in.

They’re just wandering around aimlessly. He said, These people are that way. And on the basis of that understanding and that concern, that compassion, what did he do? So he began to teach them many things. You see the connection? You see the mindset? The compassion, the love, the concern. And what did that motivate? The teaching. The teaching. And we ought to be the same way. What does it bother you when you see people steeped in false religion? Does it move you when you understand that the people around you don’t know the true God, have not obeyed the gospel, are worshiping a false God and a false doctrine and a false church. Does that bother you? Or have we become callous to it? Oh, yes, that’s the way they are.

They’ll never come out of that. They don’t care about truth. And we make these observations and go on about our merry way. And don’t do anything about it. We’re not the Lord who has compassion and that motivates us to teach. No, we ridicule and we derisively dismiss people and walk away, do nothing about it. We can’t do that. Oh, you’re doing the right things for the right reason. We’ve got to care about their souls. And let me say this: it’s not just Jesus who felt that way. Turn your Bibles to Acts chapter 17, verses 16 through 17. Acts chapter 17, verses 16 through 17. It’s not just Jesus who had this compassion and this love for all souls that motivate him to teach. Even the apostle Paul that we talked about extensively this morning had the same attitude.

Acts chapter 17, verses 16 through 17. Of course, you know in Acts 17, we began with Paul going to Thessalonica, and as was his custom. He would go into the synagogues, right? And he would take the scriptures and he would reason from the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. He would show them that the prophecies were pointing to Christ and fulfilled in Christ. And he did that in Thessalonica, and he turned the world upside down, as they say. It got so hot for him there that some of the Judaizing teachers were trying to get him, and they ended up getting Jason, who was housing them and bringing him before the authority, saying, Hey, he’s talking about a new king. We don’t have any king except for Caesar.

And it gets so hot for Paul that he goes to Berea. And of course, we know about the Brians, Acts 17, 11, it says to the Brians that they were more noble than they in Thessalonica. Why? They received the word with all readiness, searching the scriptures daily to see whether these things were sold. And so there was a better reception there. But those Judaizing teachers from Thessalonica, they came to Berea and started stirring things up again. It got so hot that Paul had to go to Athens. Silas and Timothy stayed behind. And so you got Paul, he’s waiting, right? He’s waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him. Acts chapter 17, verse 16. Let’s read. The Bible says this. Now, while Paul waited for them, remember he’s waiting for Silas and Timothy.

Now, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him. Why? When he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers and in the marketplace daily with those who happen to be there. So here is Paul. He’s waiting, right? Waiting. Silas and Timothy, get here. And he doesn’t just say, oh, wow, look at all of these uh temples and look at all this idolatry. These people don’t know God. These pagans are all going to hell. But I’m waiting on Silas and Timothy. We’ve got to go, we’ve got places to go, work to do. No. He looks out, and it bothers him to see people who don’t know the true God.

It bothers him that this city, this great city of learning from the carnal perspective of the world, is given over to idolatry. It bothers him. It motivates him, it compels him to do what? To teach. What does he do? He goes to the synagogues and he teaches. Why? Because he’s concerned about lost souls. Why? Because he has that same compassion that we see demonstrated by our Lord in Mark chapter 6, verses 30, 34. He loves the souls of men. He hates to see men in darkness who don’t know the true God. But you know what? I’m just so impressed, not only with that, but really the second part of that in verse 17. Because I suppose if one said, Well, we’re going to go into a city and we need to talk to some religious folks.

I think we would go to the synagogue. That makes sense, doesn’t it? But he didn’t just go to the synagogue, he went to the marketplace. Paul, Paul. People didn’t come to the marketplace for religion. They come to buy and sell goods. People don’t go to the mall because they want religion. They want to engage in commerce. But there’s Paul in the middle of commerce. And he’s just grabbing whoever he can. And he’s preaching and teaching the word of God. Why? Because he cares about lost souls. Why? Because he loves the souls of men. Why? Because he has compassion. In fact, I like the way he says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 9 through 11. Look over there. 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 9 through 11.

You want to know why Paul did that teaching? Why Paul was in the synagogues, why Paul was in the marketplace? Well, this explains it. 2 Corinthians 5, 9 through 11. 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verses 9 through 11. The Bible says this. Therefore we make it our aim. Whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Now listen to verse 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciousness. Why, Paul? Why is it so important to teach in the synagogues?

Why did you go to the marketplace? Why are you teaching and preaching? He tells you right here, he said, Look, I know something. I know the terror of the Lord. I know what awaits those people who are outside of Christ. I know the wrath of God. I understand eternal fire, hell. I understand that. And he says, on the basis of that knowledge, on the basis of that understanding, we persuade men. I don’t want anybody to go there. You see the love? That’s unspoken there. It’s just understood. It’s implied. I know the fate of those without Christ, and I love souls, therefore I teach. I persuade men. I wonder. I wonder if we were to wake up every morning and just dwell for a few minutes on the horrors of hell.

Might we be more fervent? Might we be more prolific? Might we be more committed in teaching others? The horrors of hell. A place that Jesus said you don’t want to go there. If you have to pluck out your eye, cut off your arm, whatever you need to do, your foot. It’s a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Well the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Our Lord and Savior said it more than any as recorded in Scripture. Hell is a horrible place. You don’t want anybody to go there. So what must we do as a result? We must teach. We must teach. Don’t be caught up in this thinking that we can just live good moral lives and that’s enough. No, we have Christianity is a teaching religion.

We have to open up our mouths. And how could we not? If we love our fellow man, if you know a person is headed for disaster in a secular sense, you would feel morally bound to say something, to stop them, to save them, to intervene. How much more so when we see people that are headed down the highway to hell? And we’re not going to intervene. And we’re not going to say anything? And we’re not going to warn them. Well, if if that’s the way we are, I know one thing. We’re not practicing the Christianity. I see in Acts 17, verse 16 through 17. And we’re not doing Mark 6, 30 through 34. Because those are men that cared about people so much they had to open their mouths.

And that ought to describe us. We love people. And we don’t want anybody to go to hell. And therefore we’re not thinking about ourselves. We’re not worried about what people think about us and what people say about us and what impact it has on our job and what impact it has in my school and what impact it has on my No! Souls are at stake. Far more important than my mental well-being and not wanting to be shunned and no. And you know what’s interesting? In this time, when you wanted to save souls, it wasn’t uh you worried about somebody saying something bad about you and hurting your feelings. At this time, you could lose liberty, you could lose possessions, and yes, you could lose your life.

But Paul’s not concerned about that. Jesus wasn’t concerned about that. You know what he’s concerned about? He’s turned about souls of men. And so are we doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to evangelism. Now, let me say this. This is this is the remarkable testament to the power of God’s word. And despite everything that I’ve said, and it is true because it’s from the scriptures. Did you know that even if you have a bad motivation, even if you have an improper heart? You remember the example that I gave you early on with myself? If truth is taught, it can still do good. And let me show you that from the scriptures. Look at Philippians chapter 1. Philippians chapter 1. Let’s start with verse 12.

Philippians chapter 1, verse 12. Philippians chapter 1, verse 12. But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. So that it’s become evident to the whole palace guard, to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Now listen, verse 15. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife. And some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my chains, but the latter out of love. There’s our right proper motivation. But the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel, what then only then everywhere, whether in preachers or in truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

Paul, no, wait a minute. Paul, I’m out. You just said that there are people that are preaching Christ from envy and from strife and from selfish ambition. Those are all the wrong reasons. We know that. So how could you possibly rejoice? Because Christ is being preached. You see that? That’s how powerful God’s word is. That even if somebody preaches the truth and only the truth, but if somebody preaches the truth from the wrong reason, the wrong purpose, it will still have its desired effect in the hearts of men. But woe to the person who preaches it from selfish ambition and envy and strife. That person will lose their soul. Now don’t, don’t, don’t miss that point. He’s not rejoicing in the improper motivation. He’s just saying, this word of God is so powerful, it doesn’t matter why you preach it.

2. The Right Reasons in Giving Back to God

If you preach the word, it’s going to convert the souls of men. And that is a testament to the power of God’s word. But we better make sure, as the ones who are the vessels, of the ones that are the ambassadors, of the ones who are the messengers, we need to make sure that we have the proper motivation. Let me give you a second thing to think about. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to giving back to God on the first day of the week? Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to giving back to God on the first day of the week? Well, Catherine, what difference does it matter? I put the money in the plate.

It’s going to do good, it’s going to support the saints, it’s going to support preaching, it’s going to help us. And you got my money. Why do you care why I did it? Well, it’s not what I care about. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 through 7. 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 through 7. Are we doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to giving back to the Lord on the first day of the week? 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 through 7. Let’s read. 2 Corinthians chapter 9, verses 6 through 7. But this I say.

Now listen to verse 7. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. Wait a minute. Did God just say that I can’t give grudgingly? Did God just say that I can’t, I don’t want to give, and I’ve got so many bills and I need to do but we just. Yeah, he said that’s unacceptable. But here’s something that’s that’s even more mind-blowing to me. Not of necessity. Now think about that for a second. If the only reason you’re giving is because you’re commanded to give, God says that’s not good enough. Think about that. Think about that. Well, I’m doing it because of the command. He said, God loves a cheerful giver. You should want to give back to God.

And if we just step back for a couple of seconds and just think about this, I think we can understand why the Lord says it’s not enough for you to simply do it because of his command. You remember we talked about Acts 17, where Paul’s at Athens. Well, we didn’t talk about the rest of that story, where Paul has an opportunity to speak to those people and to preach the truth. And very skillfully, he says, you know, I perceive that all things you’re very religious. And he points out this altar they had to the unknown God, and he proceeds to tell them about this unknown God, the true God. And I want you to look over then Acts 17 and look at verses 24 and 25 and then verse 28.

Acts chapter 17, verses 24 and 25, and then verse 28. Acts 17, 24 and 25, and then verse 28. This is Paul again speaking at Athens. He says, God, verse 24. God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is he worship with men’s hands as though he needed anything, since he gives to all life, breath, and all things. Verse 28. For in him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. And what is God telling us? God says that I created everything. Every single one of us who lives, we do so by the gift of God.

In fact, if we think about it, you know, God didn’t have any mandate to create you. Oh, I just got to create you. No, uh-huh. God chose to create you. He chose to give you life. That and of itself is a great blessing. Everything that you’ve ever experienced in life has been good. Everything you’ve ever experienced in life has made you happy. Everything you ever experienced in life made you joyful. Guess what? Would not have happened unless God gave you life. And he gives you birth. And he gives you all things: the food that you eat, the homes in which you live, the clothes that you wear, the jobs we have, whereby we can provide for ourselves and for our families and give back to those around us and give back to the Lord.

All of that ultimately comes from God. In fact, God owns everything. That money that you have, God owns it. We’re just stewards. We’re entrusted with it for a limited period of time. Everything we have can be laid at the feet of God. So if we’re going to be as recognizing that God has done all these things for us, does it make sense for us to give grudgingly? To give of necessity when God has given us everything. I mean, you can understand how it’s a slap in the face for us to do anything other than say, I’m going to give cheerfully. I’m honored. I’m privileged that I have the chance to give back to God in a small way to show my appreciation for what he has done for me.

That’s obvious. And we haven’t even begun to talk about the ultimate thing that God has done for us, which is to give his son for our salvation. You put that in there, and how can we do anything but be cheerful givers? And so, yes, does it matter how we give? Yes, it does. You need to be careful. And we need to be careful that we’re not just giving to go through the motions. We’re not just giving because there are people on each side of me on the pew, and I want to make sure they see me putting some in the plate so I stay in good standing with my social club. No. We’re giving because we appreciate God. We love God. And we understand. I mean, we’re talking about sacrificial giving.

We’re talking about the kind of giving, as some have said, that changes your standard of living. We’re not just talking about, oh, I’ve got a few dollars left over, let me throw it in the plate. No, we’re talking about, and that’s one of the things I love about my upbringing. My father, many reasons he said you should date a Christian, but one of the things he said is that, okay, if you date a non Christian and marry a non Christian, she’s not going to understand the level of giving that you’re supposed to be giving back to the God. And he showed me the kind of giving that he was doing. And it’s substantial. I mean, it’s not a couple extra bucks. It’s like, all right, when I give this, there are a lot of things I could have done, I can’t do anymore.

3. The Right Reasons in Partaking of the Lord’s Supper

And he wasn’t complaining about that. That’s the kind. So he’s saying that’s yet one of many reasons why you look for a Christian mate. But the point being is when we make those sacrifices, we do so with a cheerful spirit. If we do so grudgingly, if we do so of necessity, God says that’s no good. So we need to do the right things for the right reasons when we give back. Let me give you a third thing to think about. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to partaking of the Lord’s Supper, which we’re going to do in just a little bit? Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to partaking of the Lord’s Supper?

Look in your scriptures, the 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 23 through 34. 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 23 through 34. And as you’re doing that, one of the remarkable things about the human mind is that we can multitask. We can do a lot of things with a lot of things at the same time. And I’ve seen this unfortunately to my detriment in my life. I have a certain way that I go to work. I live in Hoover, Alabama, and so a lot of times I’ll get on 459 and take 65, go north up into downtown. That’s where I work, okay? So on Saturdays, try not to work. That’s Daddy’s Day. Hang out with the kids, and we’ll be driving somewhere. And we’ll get on 459. And if I’m not paying attention, before I know, I’m going up 65, going downtown to work.

Now, how can you do that? Because that’s the human mind. You can do all kinds and not really be focusing. You’re still doing everything, but you’re not thinking about what you’re doing. In a more shameful context, how how often have you caught yourself singing here at the assembly? You’re not thinking about the words that you’re singing. You know, you can do that. The human mind has that capacity. And so we’ve got to be very careful about that. We can do the things, we can partake of the Lord’s Supper, and our minds can be a million miles away. We’re thinking about what we’re going to have for dinner, we’re thinking about our jobs, we’re thinking about that test we have, we’re thinking about our football team and how they’re going to all kinds of things.

And we’re just going, Oh, well, I took the Lord’s Supper. And 1 Corinthians 11 tells us the danger of that. Look at verse 23. For I received from the Lord that which also delivered to you. That the Lord Jesus, on the same night which he was betrayed, took bread. And when he given thanks, she broke it and said, Take eat. Now listen, this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same manner, he also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant, my blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death to he comes.

Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself. And so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone’s hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment, and the rest I will set in order when I come.

What did you hear over and over again? What was so important? Was it just the mechanics of taking of the fruit of the vine and taking of the bread? Is that just no? Do this what? In remembrance of me. So it matters how we’re thinking at that moment. What are we thinking about? He says, You do it as you remember me. And he says, you better not do it in a what unworthy manner. What’s that again? What are we thinking about? What are our minds? Where are mine’s at? He says, let a man what? Examine himself. So that’s the mindset that we have. We’re thinking about Christ, we’re examining ourselves. And he says, if you do it any other way, you’re what? You’re guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

That’s a serious offense, folks. To be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. Does it matter what we think about as we partake of the Lord’s Supper? Yes, it does. We’ve got to make sure that we’re thinking about Christ and thinking about his sacrifice. And people, people have different ways of trying to get their mind in the right mindset. I oftentimes will think about some of the movies that I’ve seen that depict the crucifixion, and one of the ones that helps me the most is the Passion of the Christ. If you’ve seen it, and I’m not saying that every aspect of it is biblical, very rarely is that the case. A few, not many. But I don’t know if you can have a more brutal depiction of our Lord and Savior on the cross than what is shown in that movie.

In fact, I was talking to a sister in D.C. about it. She said, Kevin, it’s so brutal, I can’t watch it. I can’t watch it. And I understand that. But for me, I’ll try to use something that will take me to the cross. That will take me back in time. So I’m not just going through the emotions and da da da. No, I want to remember the agony. I want to remember the suffering. I want to remember the isolation in the garden of Gethsemane. I want to remember the prayer. Let this cup pass from me. I want to remember the words of our Lord while he’s on the cross. I want to remember him instructing his mother to be taken care of by John. I want to remember these things.

And so let’s make sure that we understand the importance of this. You know, Acts 27 says that’s really why we’re here this morning. That’s really why we’re why we come together on the first day of the week. Is to break bread. That’s talking about commemorating the death of our Lord and Savior through the partaking of the Lord’s Supper. And I’m not here to legislate how long that commemoration ought to be. And I’m not, but I’ll say this. Sometimes we seem to just rush past the and forget the importance of it. It’s important. It’s if this, what this reflects is not true. If what this reflects did not happen, everything we do is just simple vanity. Do we understand that? The crucifixion of the Lord and Savior on that cross, that’s everything.

4. The Right Reasons in Charitable Giving

That and the subsequent resurrection. If those things are not true, what we’re doing is meaningless. In fact, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes that point. If there’s no resurrection of the dead, this is all vanity. And so we need to take the time to discipline our minds and focus in a very intense way on what we’re doing when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. Why? Because it matters how we do it. It matters what we think about. Are we doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to partaking of the Lord’s Supper? Let me give you a fourth point, and the lesson will be yours. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to charitable giving? Are you doing the right things for the right reason when it comes to charitable giving?

And again, you’re saying, wait a minute, Kevin, but I’m doing these good works and I’m taking care of the poor, I’m taking care of the homeless, I’m taking care of people who don’t have enough insurance, I’m doing all these great deeds. Surely, you know, that that’s good and of itself. People are being helped, people are their lives are being encouraged and edified. And how can it, how can God care? And why does God care about why I do it? I mean, good is being done, right? 1 Corinthians 13, 1 through 3. 1 Corinthians 13, 1 through 3. 1 Corinthians and 13th chapter verses 1 through 3. The Bible says this though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol.

Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. And listen to verse 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Wait a minute. What did the apostle Paul just say there? Now we’ve got a fellow, and he gives all of his goods, all of his earthly possessions to the poor. What would we think of an individual like that if we saw him in our neighborhood, in our communities? Oh, what a Christian fellow! Oh, what a selfless person. Oh, what sacrifice. Oh, that’s wonderful.

We would just praise. And Paul says by inspiration, that if that fellow does that, and he does not have love in his heart, it profits him what? Nothing. Nothing. Wait a minute. Look at all the good that he did. Look at all the poor that were fed. It profits him nothing. Why? God cares why you do what you do. You’ve got to have the proper motivation. You’ve got to have the proper heart. When you do those charitable things, when you give to the poor, when you alleviate the suffering of others, are you doing it because you care for people? You empathize with people. You love people. You don’t like to see people suffer. You don’t like to see people struggle. And you have the means to alleviate that struggle.

You are compelled by love to do something about it, to get involved. That’s why we do charitable works. That’s why we do individual benevolence. That’s why we get involved in the lives of people who are suffering and hurting. Because we love. Does that say us? Does that describe us? Look at Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 through 4. Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 through 4. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons when it comes to charitable works? Matthew chapter 6, verses 1 through 4. Matthew the 6th chapter, verses 1 through 4. Listen to what our Lord and Savior says on this occasion. Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men. To be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound the trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets. That they may have glory from men. As surely I say to you, they have their reward, but when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Why? That your charitable deed may be in secret. And your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly. Oh, we struggle with this, don’t we? Mankind struggles with this. When somebody does something, they want a big out of boy and out of girl. That’s why we got all these buildings named after people and scholarship funds named. Hey, I want my credit. I want people to know what I did.

And he says, don’t be like these hypocrites. And when they do something good, I did something wonderful. Look at me. Uh uh. He says, when you do something good for others, when you do your charitable deeds, when you’re trying to alleviate the suffering, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. You do it in secret. And then your Father. He will reward you. But if you do it to be seen by men, you know what God says? No reward on judgment day. No reward on judgment. You’ve got your reward. You got what you wanted. You wanted the praise of men. You got it. We need to be the kind of people that are doing what? Doing good deeds for the right reasons.

Why? We love people. We love people. And let me say this too. We’re not doing good deeds because we want to be known as the church of good deeds. And we want people to come because there’s all these wonderful things we’re doing. No, no, no. We’re exalting Christ that’s pulling people in. We’re not exalting us. And let me say this too. There is no social media or Facebook exception to Matthew 6, 1 through 4. Let’s be careful about why we do the things we do. Now I had a gentleman one time come up. I was making this point and said, What are you saying? That we can’t let anybody know. And if anybody knows, no, but the point is, look at the passage again. He gets to motivation.

He says, verse one, take heed that you do not do your treadable deeds before men to be seen by them. What is the purpose? What is the motivation? What is the reason? I understand that you’re going to do some things and people are going to find out about it. But you’re not doing it for the purpose of being seen. You’re not doing it for the purpose of brethren thinking, oh, you’re so godly and you’re so self-righteous and so wonderful and the church can’t go without you. No, we’re doing things because we love God and we love people. And we’re not thinking about whether we get credit for it. Let me give you an example of that. There was a brother in a church I worshipped at in Atlanta a long time, years ago.

He lost his job. And uh he was kind of a fellow, you probably got some here, that they’re always the last ones out of the building. Boy, they just love to talk and love to get together with their brethren and have this to say and that say. So he was one of those fellows, and so he left his Bible in his pew where he know me sits, and he went out and he was talking, having a good old time. He comes back to that Bible, and in that Bible is an envelope. And in that envelope is some money, cash. And there was no name on that envelope. Now that’s somebody that knows Matthew 6, 1 through 4. To this day, he doesn’t know who gave him that money.

Conclusion

But that’s what we’re talking about. Do your charitable words, not to be seen by men, but because you care for people. Are you doing the right things for the right reasons? There are many other things we could talk about in this vein, but our time is up. But I want you to think about that. I want you to examine yourself. You know, 2 Corinthians 13 5 says, examine yourselves whether you’re in the faith. And recognize that being in the faith is not simply because I came to services. I’m here. Why are you here? That’s a good question. Why are you here this morning? Tradition, habit, keep the elders off of me. This is what I do. Are you here because you love God? With all your heart, mind, and soul.

Are you here because you love your brother and you know that your presence here is going to edify and build them up and support them and what you’re doing? Love, folks, that’s at the center of it all. We love God and we love each other, and that’s why we do what we do. And if that’s not the reason, we need to repent of that. Because that’s what God demands. He’s a God of love. And his children and his followers and his servants and his soldiers must also be people of love. I understand that we have a break, and so you’re dismissed. I appreciate your time and I appreciate your attention. Thank you very much.