Secrets Of Giving And Praying

Secrets Of Giving And Praying are among the most important teachings of Jesus.  The Lord was on a mountain  when He taught His disciples these important secrets. 

The main lesson is that God wants His children to have a secret life of giving and praying, because He wants to reward these openly.

Jesus said that we must give charitable donations in secret

Jesus began by warning His disciples not to display their righteousness just to be seen by people. Jesus said that their Father in Heaven would not reward them for showing off.

For example, Jesus told His disciples not to blow a trumpet to alert others whenever they gave charitable gifts to others. 

This is what the hypocrites did in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. 

Jesus said that they have their reward.

Jesus told His disciples to do their charitable giving in a private manner:

‘But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."

Jesus said they must give gifts secretly in order to be rewarded by their Heavenly Father

"… so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you." 

Do not show off publicly when you pray to God

There were some people in Jesus' day who loved to show off as they prayed. They would stand in the synagogues and on street corners as they prayed loudly.

They did so in order to be seen and commended by other people. Jesus said that they have a reward for being hypocrites:

‘Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward."

Pray secretly in your room

Jesus said that His disciples must not pray publicly in order to show off. Instead, they must pray privately in their  rooms or in a private place. 

God would openly reward those who pray to Him  without making a show of it:

‘But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 

Do not babble and repeat words over and over when you pray

Jesus said that God does not want His children to babble like babies and repeat words over and over when we pray.

Instead, God wants us to tell Him exactly what we need, so we can get directly to the point

‘When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So pray this way:

Conclusion to Secrets Of Giving And Praying

The main lesson is that God lives in Heaven. We cannot see Him with our physical eyes. 

Therefore, God is in secret in a sense. 

He wants His children to give to Him and to pray to Him in private. He does not want us to give and to pray in order to show off publicly.

People who give and pray in order to show off publicly have a special reward reserved for them. On the other hand, those who give and pray in private in order to please God only will also receive His special reward.

Praying in secret does not mean that you cannot pray loudly to God. It just means that we are not doing it to be seen and praised by others.

Praying in secret does not mean that we cannot pray with others. This is another prayer called the prayer of agreement or corporate prayer.

One example is in Acts 2 preceding the Day of Pentecost. 

God wants everyone of His children to have a secret prayer life that He will reward openly.

Secrets Of Giving And Praying KJV Matthew 6: 1 - 8

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

036 - Lord's Prayer from GNPI on Vimeo.