Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION:
A. I read about a person who went to a concert at a beautiful old art-deco theatre. At the end of the
concert, this person noticed two ushers standing near his seat who were applauding harder than
anybody else in the whole place.
The man said that he was thrilled with this particular concert because of the talent and virtuosity of the
musicians. It thrilled him even more to see these two ushers standing there applauding more vigorously
than all of the concert goers. His experience was somewhat diminished when he heard one usher say to
the other, “Keep clapping. If we can get them to do another encore, we get overtime!”
1. It appeared that these two ushers were serious music lovers
2. It turned out they were only applauding so long and so hard because it would mean a few
more dollars in their pockets.
3. There are people who do good things for the wrong reasons
--It might seem at the outset that they’re trying to do what is right but it ends up that they only
do it for their own benefit.
B. The title of this morning’s message is: “DESIRING GOD'S APPROVAL”
1. The word desire is synonymous with the word “covet” but is not used much anymore
a. Because “Covet” was a term that became associated with evil intent
b. However, in the original languages of the Bible, the Hebrew and Greek terms that generally
get translated “to covet” were neutral
--The rightness or wrong-ness of the action involved in coveting is dependent on the motivation
behind the coveting
2. The word “covet” simply means “a deep and passionate desire”
--what we covet is what we deeply desire; the root motivations of our hearts
C. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus encouraged His disciples to play to an audience of One - to covet
only the approval of the Heavenly Father.
1. He urged them not to be people pleasers seeking to impress others, because a few will cheer
and a few will jeer.
2. If you get your self-worth from the approval of people, you’re mood is going to be frequently
depressed and your performance often erratic.
3. In the end, it’s only God's favor that matters.
4. Some of us have such a ravenous hunger for praise that you go to almost any length to get it.
a. You have a hard time saying “no” to anyone, you want so much to be liked that it’s almost
impossible to overcome peer pressure.
b. You’re always wondering what people will say, what people will think, how people will
respond.
c. When people approve you, you’re up, when someone is upset with you you’re devastated.
d. Your whole life is viewed as a stage performance seeking the applause and avoiding the
disapproval of the crowd.
e. Even when it comes to spiritual service, instead of seeking God’s approval, you’re most
concerned about what people think.
--Would you pay attention today as we study Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount that
encourage us to seek only God’s approval?
II. JESUS GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF A HYPOCRITE WHO SOUGHT TO IMPRESS OTHERS WITH HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS
--Mt. 6:2-4a – “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do
in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand
is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.”
A. Jesus calls those who do good things with selfish intentions hypocrites
1. That word comes into our language directly from the New Testament Greek language
2. It means “an actor who wears a mask”
--In the theatre of Jesus’ day, one actor could play several roles on stage. They designated the
changing of the role onstage by wearing different masks.
3. A hypocrite in its simplest sense is someone who pretends to be something that in reality they
are not.
B. Evidently the Pharisees, who craved the praise of men, sometimes made a big show out of what they
gave to the temple treasury.
1. In the Jewish system of worship, they didn’t pass the offering tray and people didn’t give by
anonymous envelopes or folded checks.
2. The treasury boxes were set outside the worship area and people gave their money as they
came in
--Mk. 12:41 – “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the
crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.”
3. People still sometimes give to good causes for public approval.
a. Listen to any fund-raising telethon.
--You’ll hear the names of the donors names read out loud: “So and so gave a hundred dollars.”
b. Go to almost any hospital in America and you can read plaques like “This wing donated by so
and so,” and a family is listed who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to that
hospital.
c. Our Bible Colleges put names of donors on bricks or, if you give enough money, you can have
a dormitory or library named after you.
--This method is a very successful method of gaining donors and it’s not all wrong.
C. But Jesus raised the bar once again
--He uses a unique phrase that puzzles some people in our age: “But when you give to the needy, do not
let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
1. Notice Jesus assumes that if we’re subjects to the King of kings and want to live according to
his expectations, we will be “givers”
--He doesn’t say “if you give” but “when you give”
a. Being generous in helping meet the needs of others was a mark of the early church
b. A Greek philosopher named Aristedes from Athens, as early as 125 A.D., presented a defense
of Christians to the Roman emperor Hadrian. He was speaking about normal Christians. He said:
He who has gives to him who has not without grudging. When one of their poor passes away
from the world, and any of them sees him, then he provides for his burial according to his
ability. If they hear that any of their number is imprisoned or oppressed for the name of their
Messiah, all of them provide for his needs, and if it is possible that he may be delivered, they will
deliver him. If there is among them a man that is poor or needy and they have not an
abundance of necessities, they fast two or three days, that they may supply the needy with their
necessary food.
2. The phrase “don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” was a reference to
your best friends
--We still refer to someone as our “right-hand man”
a. Jesus isn’t telling us that we shouldn’t keep track of what we give for income tax purposes or
that it’s wrong to give by envelope or check because someone is going to find out, or even to
just reach into your wallet and close your eyes and give whatever bill you pull out.
b. What He is saying is that we should “give and forget”
--Don’t dwell on or gloat over how much we’ve given
c. He also means that we shouldn’t call attention to our giving
--Be satisfied with having no one know what you give but God.
3. You might remember a news story from September of 1997. Ted Turner announced that he
was giving a billion dollars to the United Nations. Although he designated that the money be
used to help the extremely poor with food, clothing, and shelter, he made sure his huge
donation was seen by everybody. Before he made the gift, he notified talk-show host Larry King
so he could start circulating the news. And then, Turner made his announcement in a New York
ballroom filled with tuxedos, evening gowns, reporters and cameras.
a. He has his reward—the approval of men.
b. The Message: “They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out,
don’t think about how it looks. Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively.”
CONCLUSION:
A. Bob Russel, several years ago, told about his grandson Charlie who was going to be playing football.
Charlie was eight years old and was a little chunkier and little slower than most of the boys his age. On
the way to the first football practice, Charlie’s dad told him, “Now Charlie, the coach is liable to want
you to be a lineman.” The truth is: no eight year old boy wants to be a lineman. They all want to be a
quarterback, running back or receiver – that’s where the glory is. It’s not in being a lineman.
Charlie’s dad, Rusty, continued: “Now the linemen are really important because they block for the other
players. The lineman don’t get to carry the ball or throw passes, but if the lineman do their job, the guys
carrying the ball can make touchdowns—otherwise they can’t.”
Sure enough, 30 minutes into the first practice, the coach started to place his team. He said, “Charlie, I
want you to be lineman. You’ll be the right guard.” Charlie got down in a three point stance and looked
over to his dad with a big smile and went [thumbs up!].
--He was thrilled!
1. Perhaps our Heavenly Father allowed us to play a role that doesn’t get much applause.
2. If you have a behind-the-scenes assignment where you’re blocking for others and not getting much
glory, can you still be content?
B. Along with watching out for being a people-pleaser, we also have to guard against being a self-
pleaser.
1. Sometimes we preserve our anonymity while quietly congratulating ourselves.
a. Not only are we to avoid giving for the praise of others, we are also to make sure we don’t give simply
so we can privately praise ourselves.
b. It’s possible to take deliberate steps to keep our giving a secret all the while gloating over our self-
satisfied generosity.
2. Our motive must be to covet God’s approval.
C. We come now to our invitation time
--There is something that has prevented some of you from accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior:
you’re concerned with what people will think
1. If I walk forward, people who know me may think, “They don’t have any business doing that” or “I
thought they were already a Christian” or “I thought they were already a member here.”
2. Maybe you’re concerned about the people at work or your family, friends, and acquaintances: “They
might make fun of me or lose respect for me
3. Maybe today’s the day you need to quit being a people-pleaser. Swallow your pride, humble yourself
before God, and make a courageous decision for Christ.
--He’s the only one who matters in the end. Seek His approval today.