Preaching and Praying on Street Corners is Just Exalting Self

When ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. . . . They have received their reward. Matthew 6.5.

There are two different kinds of reward: that which comes from man, and that which comes from God. No one can have both rewards. If we wish to receive man’s reward now we will not be able to obtain God’s reward in the future. We cannot seek to enjoy great fame on earth and then have high position in the kingdom to come. If today’s zeal and alms are for the purpose of getting fame and praise, there will be nothing to gain in the future before God. For this reason we should refuse today’s reward.

What, after all, can the praise of man add to us? If we have our eyes opened we will seek only the glory before God and the angels; the rest will not count at all.