Putting on a Show

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:2 NASB) It is easy to do things in order to receive recognition.  It is much easier to do the right thing when you know someone will notice it.  Sometimes we can be most annoyed when we do the right thing and we do not get the thanks or praise to which we feel entitled.  We must remember Who our true audience is.  When we insist on being recognized it is because we don't understand, or worse yet, don't believe, that God truly sees what we do when we rest in Him.  Furthermore, God is the giver of eternal rewards.  A clear view of God means that we will not rely upon the thanks and praise of men, because we are only concerned with the opinion that matters most: that of Our Lord.