The Triple Crown of Christian Life

~~~ 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ~~~ Psalm 112 ~~~ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 ~~~

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...

the trifecta of the Christian life.

Prayer acknowledging that there is a God who cares and listens to us.

Fasting a means to become better focused on listening to the voice of God.

Almsgiving a generous way to give from our personal abundance.

 

These three have been valued throughout all times across varied cultures.

 

The readings today spotlight almsgiving.

There is even a touch of what we might consider cliché verbiage...

God loves a cheerful giver.

 

I had a close relative who was very generous with his money,

 but there were always strings attached.

I will give you this; if you promise to do such and such.

Somehow these little strings placed a damper over the gift.

It sometimes made me wonder if it really was a gift...or just bribery in disguise.

At times I felt like I did not want to accept the gift

because of the accompanying stipulations.

 

I think God has a very different idea when it comes to our almsgiving.

He instead ties it to farming.

Gift giving is like planting seeds which will bear fruit in the future.

One does not sow a seed only if it will produce the most perfect fruit.

Instead we sow many seeds knowing that some will not bear fruit...

some will never even take root, but still they are planted.

 

God is able to make every grace abundant for you...

 

Jesus gives us direct guidelines on these three pillars of a holy life.

 

Almsgiving...

But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Prayer...

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Fasting...

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

 

These three actions have one very obvious thing in common;

they should all take place in secret.

We are not to broadcast what we are doing.

 

Drawing attention to ourselves for what we are doing detracts

from the purpose God had in mind.

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are best undertaken in privacy.

There is no benefit from boasting about how much you have given to the poor.

There is no benefit in proclaiming your denial through fasting.

There is no benefit is broadcasting how much time you spend in prayer each day.

 

If we are blessed with riches then they should

cause us to give thanks for the generosity of God.  

All that we have has come to us through Our Lord Jesus Christ...

from whom all good things come.

 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving...the triple crown of Christian life.

Each one holds its unique blessings.