No, the above is not a typo error. The three “there’s” are used for emphasis. The 2nd “there” means that there is a righteous and obedient heart available so that God is able to use you to serve others in a way that builds up His kingdom. Hence, there’s there there.
Matthew 6:1 admonishes us, “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” If the world sees us trying to live out “righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them,” we are bringing glory to ourselves rather than God. The result is there will be no “reward with your Father who is in heaven.” Isaiah 64:6 is clear, “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.” When we operate out from self, our ego is built up rather than God. Our self-centeredness brings no eternal value. In other words, there’s no there there.”
Matthew 6:2-7 gives us two great examples. The first one is found in vv. 2-4, 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your charitable giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew is clear here, “do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people.” If your effort to give to the poor is well publicized, then your effort has no there there. To have there there, “give in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 5-7 declares, 5 “And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” No “there” resides in hypocrisy. Sanctimoniousness, insincerity, and deceitfulness have a negative value in Christ’s kingdom. Matthew instructs us, “when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret.” A person who gets alone with God praying in secret brings great worth to Him. 1 Corinthian 1:9 states, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our “calling” is “into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Quietly loving Jesus in fellowship and being open to receiving His fellowship of love brings enormously desirable to God. There’s there there.
When we die to self and learn to live for His glory not ours, we discover with a great deal of joy… There’s there there!
Barnabas Man 