Don't be a hypocrite!

 

DON'T BE A HYPOCRITE!

 

‘When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do . . .’ (Matthew 6:2 NIV)

 

We attended a high school play in which my son played a part. The young people were quite convincing in their portrayals of the characters in the play. In make-up and costumes, some of them appeared elderly, with gray hair. one carried a cane and walked with a limp.

 

Afterward, we saw these same young people — still in make-up and costumes — standing in the hall. How different, how unreal they looked! At close range, they neither looked like themselves nor like the characters they had portrayed.

Hypocrites are play actors, pretending to be something they are not. A close-up look reveals their pretenses. What a great disappointment it is to see what they really are!

 

Many people pretend to be good Christians. They may pray in public, give generously and seem sincere. They may even fool other church members for a while — maybe even the pastor. But no hypocrite ever fools God, for He looks at the heart.

 

There are two kinds of hypocrites: those who want to appear superspiritual before the church, and those who want to be known as religious in the world. They want the praise of men. Jesus says they have their reward.

 

Life response: I will seek the praise of Christ over the praises of the world.