Gift from Creator Tells the Good Story 6
6
THE WAY TO DO GOOD
1“Beware of doing good just so people can see you, for then you will receive no honor from your Father from above, who is the Creator. 2When you give gifts to the poor and do good things for others, do not brag about it on the village pathways or in the gathering houses, like those who put on a false face, pretending to be something they are not. The truth is, they honor only themselves and they will get nothing more.
3-4“But when you help others who are in need, do it in secret. Do not even tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Then your Father who sees all things will honor you.
THE WAY TO PRAY
5“When you send your voice to the Great Spirit, do not be like the ones who love to stand up and pray with a loud voice in the gathering houses and along the village pathways, hoping to be seen and heard by others. The truth is, they have their honor already. They will get no more. 6Instead, find a quiet hiding place where no one can see or hear you and send your prayers to your Father in secret. He will see what you have done and honor you.
7-8“When you pray, do not be like the people from the Outside Nations, who use empty words over and over again, thinking their many words will help them be heard. Your Father, the Creator, already knows what you need even before you ask.
9“Instead, when you send your voice to the Great Spirit, here is how you should pray:
“O Great Spirit, our Father from above, we honor your name as sacred and holy.
10“Bring your good road to us, where the beauty of your ways in the spirit-world above is reflected in the earth below.
11“Provide for us day by day—the elk, the buffalo, and the salmon. The corn, the squash, and the wild rice. All the things we need for each day.
12“Release us from the things we have done wrong, in the same way we release others for the things done wrong to us.
13“Guide us away from the things that tempt us to stray from your good road, and set us free from the evil one and his worthless ways. Aho! May it be so!
14“Remember, our Father from the spirit-world above will release you from your wrongdoings in the same manner you release others from theirs. 15But if you fail to release others, this keeps your Father, the Creator, from releasing you.
THE WAY TO FAST
16“When you go without food to seek spiritual things, do not be like the ones who put on a false face. They hang their heads down and darken their faces to look as if they are going without food. They only want people to notice them and think they are spiritual. I speak from my heart, they already have all the honor they deserve—they will get no more. 17But when you go without eating, put on your headdress and wash your face, 18so others will not notice. But know that your Father from above, who sees in secret, will honor you.
THE WAY TO SEE POSSESSIONS
19“Take care not to store up possessions on earth that can be spoiled by worms, eaten by moths, or stolen by thieves. 20Instead, give away your possessions to the ones in need, and then you will be storing up great possessions in the spirit-world above, where nothing can be lost or stolen. 21For where you store your valued possessions is where your heart will be.”
GOOD EYE OR BAD EYE
Among the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) a greedy person was said to have a bad eye and unable to see the good road. A generous person was said to have a good eye, full of light and able to clearly see the good road.
22 So he said to them, “Light shines into the body through the eye. If your eye is clear, your whole being is full of light. 23But if your eye is bad, then your whole being is full of darkness. If the only light you have is darkness, then the darkness is very great!
24“No one can be loyal to two rival chiefs. You will have to choose between them. You will either hate one chief and love the other, or honor one and resent the other. You cannot be loyal to the Great Provider and to possessions at the same time.
WORRY IS THE WRONG PATH
25“This is why I am telling you not to be troubled about getting enough to eat or drink, or what to wear. Is eating, drinking and clothing yourself all there is? Does your life not have more meaning than this?
26“Look to the winged ones who soar on the wind. Do they plant seeds and gather the harvest into a storehouse? No! But your Father from above gives them plenty to eat. Do you not know he cares even more for you? 27Can worry add even one more step to the length of your life’s journey?
28“Why do you trouble yourself with what to wear? Have you seen how the wildflowers grow in the plains and meadows? Do you think they work hard and long to clothe themselves? 29No! I tell you not even the great chieftain Stands in Peace (Solomon), wearing his finest regalia, was dressed as well as even one of these.
30“If Creator covers the wild grass in the plains with such beauty, which is here today and gathered for tomorrow’s fire, will he not take even better care of you? Why is your faith so small? 31There is no need to say, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32This is what the Nations who have lost their way have given their hearts to, but your Father from above knows you need these things.
33“If you will make Creator’s good road your first aim, representing his right ways, he will make sure you have all you need for each day. 34So do not worry about tomorrow’s troubles. It is enough to trust Creator to give you the strength you need to face today.
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