A superficial man with a smooth tongue sat in a well-respected leader’s office.  He read a few of the plaques.  On them were words honoring that leader for his years of faithful, humble, and sacrificial service in helping others.  The shallow man looked at the leader and enviously said, “I wish that I had some plaques to put on my wall.”  The leader thought for a second and replied, “I never wished that.” 

I once attended a board meeting of a Christian ministry that had been operating for over 20 years.  For what seemed like an eternity, the Executive Director boasted of the accolades he had received from many different government officials and government organizations. 

Through a power point presentation he proudly projected plaques, photos, and letters that spoke highly of him and his government funded social work.  During the course of the meeting, there was not one mention of victories in lives of the people his work was supposed to be serving.

One board member eventually asked if anyone had accepted Jesus through the social work. The reply came, No one has confessed out loud but that doesn’t mean they haven’t.  I don’t know. 

The Executive Director was so enamored by the praise of men that he was missing the purpose for which he was called.  Thankfully, there are a growing number of ministries around the world who do not seek the praises of men but rather they seek the reward of God.

In Matthew 6:1-8, Christ speaks of those who do good deeds seeking the praise and admiration of men.  He begins saying, “Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”*

The words of following song should be our desire:

Lord I come to you today with a simple prayer to pray.  In everything I do, let my life, Oh Lord, praise you.   Let my life praise you.

Lord you formed me out of clay and for your glory I was made.  Use this vessel as you choose and let my life Oh Lord praise you.  Let my life praise you.

In the book of second Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote that in the last days people “will betray their friends [colleagues], be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.  They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly [humble].  You must stay away from people like that” (3:4-5). 
John Bunyan (1628-1688), author of the Pilgrim’s Progress, once preached an especially powerful sermon. The first person he spoke to afterward told him how wonderful his sermon was.  John Bunyan replied, “Yes, I know. The Devil told me that as I walked away from the pulpit."*

Charles Lamb (1775-1834), an English essayist and poet, said, “The greatest pleasure I have known is to do good action in stealth [in secret], and to have it found out by accident.”

The book was made into a full-length feature movie and dismissed by critics as uninteresting.  However, according to World Film Crusade, an estimated 50 million people in over 30 languages in 150 countries have viewed the movie.  They also report that it has been one of the most viewed films in the world.[iv]  The Cross and the Switchblade served as the catalyst for the support and acclaim that David Wilkerson received in founding the organization of Teen Challenge.

Today, Teen Challenge is recognized worldwide as the most successful residential rehabilitation program of its kind for people with life controlling problems.  The book is also responsible for thousands of people around the world who are working with marginalized people because they were inspired by David Wilkerson’s story.  What most people do not know is the man behind the success of the book The Cross and the Switchblade.  

The late William Clement Stone (an American businessman, philanthropist, and author) purchased 10,000 hardcopies just so the book would be placed on a popular bestseller list.  As a result, Good Housekeeping magazine serialized the book which, in turn, made it a household name.[v]

William Stone was not concerned with receiving recognition from others by launching the success of the Cross and the Switchblade through his generous purchase.  He did not proudly publicize his secret act in order to gain recognition from man.  Instead, the act went unnoticed and he humbly waited for an eternal award from God.

By desiring and seeking an eternal reward from God we can discern, disarm, and destroy pride.