God Will Reward You Openly

“Your Father that sees in secret, shall reward you openly” (Matthew 6:6).

Matthew 6:5, “And when you pray, you shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

Prayer is not to be a show. Prayer is to be fellowship with God. Jesus said these so-called spiritual people who are always praying in public have their reward, and I don’t think He meant “answered prayer.”

I was in a church service years ago, and the pastor had everyone bring their offering to the front. One man had a hundred-dollar bill that he was going to give. Before he gave it, however, he held it over his head and waved it for everyone to see. Then he danced up and down the aisles for several minutes waving his hundred-dollar bill.

For most of the people in the meeting, a hundred dollars was a lot of money to give and he knew it. I suppose he thought that most people would be impressed and think, “Wow, he’s giving a hundred dollars, he must really be spiritual, and love God.”

Whatever the people thought, that was his reward, because I don’t think God was impressed, or rewarded that pride. The same applies in prayer. We want results—not the praise of people.

Matthew 6:6, “But you, when (not if) you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father which is in secret; And your Father which sees in secret, shall reward you openly.”

Seek the approval of God, not man!