Ruins at Corinth, Greece, 2012, taken by Martha Wiggins
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-6
Is it wrong to practice your faith in public? Wrong to let others see you giving to the poor? Wrong to pray out loud that others might hear? At first glance that seems to be what the verse above from Matthew’s Gospel is saying. With closer scrutiny we see that this is not the case at all.
Whether or not public faith displays, giving to the needy, and praying in public are right or wrong depends upon intent, upon why it is done. Jesus warns us that if you do these things in order to be seen or praised by others, then that (being seen and whatever respect or fame it offers) will be your reward, here and now. There will be no reward from the Father in heaven.
Therefore, the reason behind the doing makes all the difference. In reality we need both public and private faith and prayer lives. Unless the private interior life of the soul is healthy and righteous the public display will be just that, a display for personal gain and not for spiritual growth and knowledge.
Reaffirm and solidify your faith in private before entering the public arena each day. Then by all means, live out your faith. Go ahead and give to the needy letting your gift be an example for others to follow or for making others aware of a well deserved charitable organization. Pray in public, not to get attention for being religious or spiritual, but to witness the great need for a relationship with Christ in every part of daily life.
Public vs. Private? Both, at the right time, in the right place, and for the right reason… to share the love of Christ with all and bear witness to His saving grace in action. Your reward, rather than immediate and fleeting, will be given you by the Father in heaven. Your reward will be eternal.
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