Living Intentionally in the Kingdom of God: Humble Service before God

6Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they loveto stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.6But when you pray,go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases asthe Gentiles do, forthey think that they will be heardfor their many words.8Do not be like them,for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 16Andwhen you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others.Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.17But when you fast,anoint your head and wash your face,18that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[b]