Just Talking to God

A brand new lawyer in his brand new office on his first day at his new practice saw a man walking towards his open office door. The young lawyer assumed this man must be a prospective client, so he decided he should look busy. Wanting to make this would-be client think was a hotshot lawyer, he picked up the phone and started talking: “Look, Harry, about that amalgamation deal. I think I better run down to the factory and handle it personally. Yes… No... I don’t think three million will swing it. We better have Rogers from Seattle meet us there. OK. Call you back later.” 

With that, he slammed the desk phone down on the receiver, and looked up at the visitor. “Good morning, how may I help you?” And the prospective client said, “You can’t help me at all. I’m from IT, and I’m just here to hook up your desk phone.”

That poor lawyer hopefully learned a lesson from his embarrassing mishap, but I’m afraid that many churchgoers put on a similar performance each Sunday. Instead of using their prayers as a chance to talk to God, they are more concerned with sounding a certain way in the ears of their fellow congregants. In order to come across as smarter, more spiritual, or perhaps closer to God, they turn their prayers into sermonettes, quoting Bible verses, and speaking King James English. Please note, there is nothing wrong with praying that way from a sincere heart, but if the goal is to impress others, then it is not a real prayer. 

Jesus warned about people who did this very thing. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” He continued: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words (Matthew 6:5,7).”

Hypocrite is a word that was used of actors who played a part on stage. In the previous verses Jesus had warned about those who practice their charitable deeds in public, and the word practice was used to describe a performance. Jesus is calling out those who stand on stage and play a role instead of sincerely trying to talk to God. The heathens (or unconverted Gentiles) were known for adding as many words as possible to their prayers, thinking their gods would be impressed if they talked longer. We do not have to do that when we pray. We simply talk to God, and He is glad we are spending time with Him. 

For those who want to impress others with their fancy prayers, “they have their [only] reward (v.5).” But for those who want their prayers to be heard by God, Jesus said, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you (v.6).” When you pray, make sure you are talking to God, and performing like a hypocrite.