The Sojourn

Category: Sermons

  • How to Know Who Your Master Is

    Many men turn aside from religion when their interest would be compromised. If I see two men walking together I cannot tell who is the master of the dog that is behind, but I shall discover directly. One of them will turn to the right and the other to the left—now I shall know who is the master of the dog, for when it comes to the turning point the dog will go with its master and leave the stranger. You cannot always tell whether it is God or Mammon that a man is serving when virtue is profitable—but when it comes to the turning point and the man has to be a loser for Christ in what he gives up for Christ’s sake—then sincerity is tried! Turning points are places where we may judge ourselves, for they are the only true criteria of our real character.

    — Charles Spurgeon, Sermons (1866), p. 134

    You could go through your whole life walking behind two masters, never knowing whether you are following Christ or following some false treasure, because you have so confused the two as lord. This is why the spiritual practices that Jesus gives us in the beginning of chapter six are so crucial. What better way to cut yourself off from the hoarding spirit of Mammon than by generously giving it away to others? What better way to counter the lie of self-sufficiency and personal productivity than by spending time in prayer and contemplation? And what better way to deny the power that worldly pleasure has over you, whether food or sex or anything else, than be temporarily fasting from its provision? These practices are defensive in that they expose the tendencies in your heart and shield you against the temptations of worldly treasure. But they are offensive also, because they strengthen your resolve to pursue God himself, and find delight in him alone.

  • Prayer Contra Gentiles

    Prayer Contra Gentiles

    Now when you are praying, do not babble like the Gentiles, for they think that in their many words they will be accepted. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

    Matthew 6:7–8

    The Pharisees pray to be seen by men. The Gentiles pray to be seen by no one at all. Their prayers are mindless babbling, having no thought, no wisdom, no content of any significant value at all. They are mosquitos in the ear of God, and they hope that by their continual buzzing he might become annoyed enough to respond. Pharisees pray to God without a heart, but the Gentiles pray to God without a brain.

    There must be thinking that informs prayer, and thinking of the right sort. For the Pharisees thought about their words, but these words were designed to impress. Prayer is not rhetoric. Instead, prayer considers what words befit the character of God. Neither the Pharisees nor the Gentiles understood who God is.

    This is why Jesus responds with, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” In this clause lies a world of theology. We see God’s omniscience in his knowledge of all unspoken requests. We see his omnipotence in divine power inclined to need. We see his immanence in his ability to draw near, and his benevolence in his willingness to do so. And most significantly, we see his intimacy as he identifies himself as Father. It is this knowledge that we carry with us into our prayers.