980B: Sound No Trumpet
In Matthew chapter six, Jesus began teaching on the evidences of deeper spirituality. To the Jew, there were three great religious activities which set a man apart as spiritually successful: almsgiving, praying, and fasting. These were the hallmarks of a religious man. It was here that Jesus chose to pull back the layers of artificial godliness and expose man for what he really is apart from the grace of God. What we do will be rewarded either in this life or in eternity, not in both. If our motivation is to do things for men, we have received our reward; but if our motivation is to please God, we are to sound no trumpets, for God sees us and our reward will be eternal.