Alms and Prayer

Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them,

When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites.

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. Matthew 6:1,2,5,16

Jesus gives us a lesson on how to give from the heart, rather than doing it for show. The same can be said about prayer. Jesus knows exactly what we do and don't do. He knows when we do it for show, to be seen and looked upon by others as a giver, as a prayer.

When we gather, and do things such as a procession, we pray, but we are doing it for prayer, not for show or recognition. Today we have many gatherings, for many things, but when we are together is it done for show, to be seen that we are there for righteous sake, or doing it for the Lord in the spirit of piety.

The same with almsgiving, is it done for the Lord or for recognition. Do we blow our own trumpets and tell others we give more than them. What purpose do we do it for. God knows what we do. He knows what we have and do not have. And then there are some who will criticize because some do not give enough of what they have for the offering basket.
No one knows except the ones who count the money. Or the the one's who puts it in the tally books. They do not know the circumstances of the giver and to judge what they do is not their place. God knows what we do and give and He judges us accordingly.