Learning to Live Without Vainglory Matthew 6: 1-8, 16-18 Again thanks to James Bryan Smith “The Good and Beautiful Life”

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Top 10 Rare & Amusing Insults #1: Cockalorum Definition:a boastful and self-important person; a strutting little fellow About the word: If cockalorum suggests a crowing cock, that's because cockalorum probably comes from kockeloeren – an obsolete Dutch dialect verb meaning "to crow."

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Taken from the shrine where the Sermon on the mount was given, Sea of Galilee in background.

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Also from Sermon on the Mount shrine, close-up of boat on Sea of Galilee

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Vainglory not common word to us. It is similar but not quite the same as vanity. Vainglory is ‘1. excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity, or 2. empty pomp or show.’ “only vice that needs a virtue to exist” (p.141) Jesus explains simply: “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.” He does NOT say don’t do ‘acts of righteousness’! This does NOT contradict 5:16, because it’s a very different motive!

Learning to Live Without Vainglory “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Difference: God is noticed or ‘I’ am noticed! False narrative is thinking our value determined by the assessment of others. We want positive affirmation to establish our value. We all want to feel valued, worthwhile, wonderful! WE ARE! …amazing …in image of God …valuable! Jesus moving us along continuum from anger… to love and bless our enemies. If we’ve come this far, we’re good kingdom citizens.

Learning to Live Without Vainglory But Jesus knows we’re not done yet. This is Orthodox Church 8th deadly sin! Vainglory: rooted in insecurity and driven by our need for affirmation by others. It’s subtle. ‘Left hand not knowing what right hand does’ probably not literal. Does not mean we can’t plan and keep track of our giving. If you give to get noticed, noticed is all you get! Same thinking applies to prayer.“…prayer ought not to be used to gain plaudits, summarize a sermon, or communicate information to an audience but should reflect genuine conversation with God.”

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Giving generously, praying, fasting good things UNLESS done to impress people! Luke 18: 10-14:“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Learning to Live Without Vainglory Pharasee great example of vainglory, Jesus perfect example of humility. We’ll do well when we try to follow Jesus. Puritan saying, “Live for an audience of One.” It does not matter who is impressed or not if we are obedient to God and His Word! Listen to opinions and learn from them, but do not be controlled by them if we are obedient to God. Grow in love and obedience to God and don’t be concerned with what others think!