Our title for this Sunday’s message is as follows: Being Transparent points to Christ!
Being transparent means being open,
Being honest, and clear in your actions,
Clear in our words, and intentions.
If we are being transparent, we allow others to see through any pretense so they can trust us to understand the situation fully,
-much like seeing through clear glass, but it also involves being upfront about both good and bad aspects of ourselves, fostering accountability and maintaining strong relationships. When we are transparent, we not hide things, and we always say what you mean. actions align with your words.
The truth may not always be pretty. Being upfront and honest about the challenges you face, the mistakes youve made, and what youve learned from those missteps shows youre committed to transparency even if that means ending up with a bit of egg on your face. But people respect honesty, not perfection.
What are some signs of lack of transparency?
For example, if someone is always vague about their whereabouts or activities, or if they frequently change their story, this could be a sign that they’re not being transparent. And lack of transparency often points to a lack of integrity and authenticity.
Let me give you a test! I have 10 statements and you can say amen or ouch.
1. Your insides match the outside
2. You are liked and respected
3. Your actions and words are aligned
4. You tell the truth no matter the outcome
5. You share themselves with others
6. You share your thoughts and opinions
7. You accept criticism and grow from it
8. You take accountability for your mistakes
9. You keep your promises
10. You uplift and encourage others
Now, Let’s read our scripture that will help us.
Turn into your Bible to Matthew 5:13-16
(New International Version) Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This scripture explains who the disciples were called to be and what they were to do in this world. It’s very helpful for today because this is what God is calling us too. Jesus defend their new identity and mission on earth as representatives of God on earth with two metaphors one in verse 13 and one in verse 14 verse 13 says you are the side of the Earth and 14 says you are the light of the world. The law is fulfilled in verse 17 when it is embodied in lives of love, faithfulness, mercy, justice, and so on. For this reason, Jesus identified the disciples as actually to live out the laws intent: to be the salt the Earth and the light of the world.
During Jesus is time on earth, the salt was used to disinfect wounds and preserve food, but it was used primarily for seasoning. Only a third of the dead sea salt used for cooking ancient Galilee was pure. In storage, salt was more easily washed away and the other minerals recovered by evaporated Dead Sea water.
Salt is not salt for itself; it is seasoning for our food. In the same way, the disciples are not for themselves, but they are for the Earth. We are not for ourselves, but we are for the kingdom of God. To be truly salty disciples this required involvement of themselves with life on earth as we see it. We are the essential ingredient for making life on earth palatable.
According to verse 13: To lose our identities as the followers Jesus would be to make ourselves worthless witnesses for God and of no spiritual value to the world.
According to the verse 14, we are supposed to be the light of the world. Faithful followers of Jesus are called to continue the mission of the Messiah. That that mission is to be a light to the nations.
According to the scripture, we just read Jesus clarified his use of light in an imagery with two points. The first point referred to the city that was on the hilltop. Clearly visible from all directions, even at a distance, it can’t be hidden. Vision from a hilltop is necessary because the elevated perspective offers practical benefits for navigation, safety, defense, and perception, as well as psychological benefits for relaxation and focus
The second proverb illustrated the obscure notion of lighting a lamp and hiding it under something, because it would have no purpose or effect on the world. It’s pointless to light a candle and hide it under something. Jesus is insistent that since we are his followers, we are to be the light of the world. We are to shine and illuminate Christ’s love. We are to allow our lights to shine before all people. This will glorify God and draw all mankind to him.
Our friends, this is what people call a transparent person. Verse 16 explains what he means. A citizens of the kingdom of heaven the mission of Jesus‘s followers is to simply live out our life with the new reality. To live out life with good works that will bless others. Now these good works were not the light, but they were the reflection of the light. We are not Jesus, but the Holy Spirit drives us to create good fruit, making us the reflection of Christ.
This brings us to our good works. We have some works that are corporately done. Say for the church. It is necessary that we invite people on our Facebook pages, on Instagram, or by a card we send in the mail, because
This is the way that the modern world notifies people,to let them know, what is available, but it is a whole another thing to take credit for yourself. Remember, we are not the light we are the reflection of the light. You need to be careful with statements like I fed 40 people tonight instead, we should say the Lord fed 40 people tonight. I hope you can see the difference. One is taking the credit and one is giving the credit.
This lead just to our next scripture. Turn again into your Bible to Matt 6:1-4!
Matthew 6:1-4 (New International Version)
(Giving to the Needy)
Pay attention verse three!
6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.2 “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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
The scripture were looking at is primarily Matthew 6:1-4, this where Jesus teaches that when you give to the needy, you shouldn’t announce it with trumpets like hypocrites do for human praise; if you do, “they have received their reward in full,” meaning their reward is the public honor, not a heavenly one, whereas private giving to the unseen Father brings a greater reward.
Now we spoke about corporately giving let’s talk about privately. The acts of private devotion of God is like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. When we tell people what we have done for others, we are trying to win the admiration of them.
We are getting our reward by getting our pat on the back.
However, if we keep our deeds in secret, then father God will give us our reward in heaven.
Sometimes, I mean all the time, we must question our motives at doing something -did we pay for somebody’s meal or give an extra dollar at checkout to be seen of others or to show them the light; which is Jesus.
It’s an individual thing. Do you want treasures here to mound up or do you want treasures to mound up in Heaven? I want my treasures in heaven.
Prayer and fasting are very private ways to worship God. Throughout the section of the sermon on the mount, Jesus took for granted that his disciples would take part in these traditional practices -when you give in verse two or three when you pray in verse 56 and seven and when you fast and verses 16 and 17. But he sternly caution them that such private devotion practices were intended for an audience of one.-God alone. The kind of righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law in that in chapter 5, verse 20.
Jesus approves of both types of worship.
when we do the right thing that counts as righteousness. In verse two, Jesus declared the hypocrites to be honored by no one. In verse two, he said you were a hypocrite if you did tasks to be seen by others. He objected the people who were showing off, pretending, making themselves the performance, and the ones motivated by the desire to impress others.
Verse three instruct us to give anonymously, discreetly, and inconspicuously. It also advises us to avoid public and even self congratulations! We are to give out of a pure love for God and the needy God loves. When we give him this way, we are perfect as our heavenly father is perfect Mathew 5:48. OOn the other hand, God‘s gift of sunshine and rain. Mathew 5:45 is like most of God‘s gifts, and it comes as God sees fit. As Christians, we have the advantage of knowing who to think.
Jesus encouraged his disciples to appreciate that God knew their true motives. In verse four and six, it says that your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Perhaps, God’s approval was the only heavenly reward they expected. If they gave with the right motives and attention that would be enough.
Let’s walk by the spirit and not by the flesh. If We walk by the spirit we will be aware of situations and the Holy Spirit will give us the answers to those situations.
Remember, acts of love come from the Holy Spirit. If we want the praise of men, we will get it. The transaction will be complete and we can claim nothing more in the heavenly realm. Work for God because you love him not because of the praise you will get from the Christian community.
