Have you been to church this week for worship or "acts of service" in some manner? Perhaps you've done outstanding works for God through volunteering, giving or charitable deeds. I'm sure we can all add up our good works and even blew our own horn a few times. Shall I start my list? Of course not, that would be boasting and we know what God thinks about that, right?
Sadly, I'm sorry to admit, I've sometimes forgotten about His thoughts on the matter and most of the time it's usually right in the middle of my prideful act. Jesus spoke about this in Matthew 6:2 where He discusses how even good deeds can be done for the wrong reasons, turning the act into nothing but rubbish and simply for show or the "apprearance" of being religious.
"So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you (to advertise what you did), as the hypocrites do (like actors acting our a role) in the synagogues (or churches) and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they (already) have their full reward." (from Matthew 6:2 AMP emphasis mine)
I remember a certain conversation from the film Flywheel. It took place as they were leaving the church parking lot when the wife asked her husband if they could go to the evening service as well.
"I wanna come back tonight for the evening service."
His response: "I'm not coming back tonight. I've got things to do at the (car) lot."
"On a Sunday, Jay?
He dug himself deeper: "I've already tithed my time to church this week."
Really? I've got things to do ... already tithed my time." Ouch!
Sometimes we think we’re honoring God by doing things we deem as “religious” to make people think we are godly, but trust me when I say, God knows our actions are only a front and aren’t from the heart.
To Jesus everything we do, even our worship, is in vain if we don’t really believe. In Matthew chapter 15 after the Lord finished speaking to the people, the disciples sensed His message didn’t go over big with the crowd. Speaking to Jesus they said, “Do You realize that what you said really offended the Pharisees?” (vs.12)
Of course the Master knew that figuratively calling a spade a spade would upset people, because no one wants to be referred to as a hypocrite. He was honest in telling it like it was and didn't hold back on being direct with His opinion, when they boldy declared their giving practices along with other so called religious activites.
Jesus said that anyone who isn’t truly His disciple/follower will be revealed and plucked out (pulled) by the roots. In other words, they are rotten like the tooth that decayed and had to be pulled out root and all. It was worthless, no good and needed to go.
God is looking for people to do the right thing, for the right reason, with a humble heart that isn't willing to take His glory. Sometimes that's a bit hard to do, when deep down we really want that praise.
Is there anything you are trying to keep secret that you know is sin? In the end it will be rooted up and Christ will reveal whether or not there is hypocrisy found.
Surely, no one (including me) wants to think of themselves as having anything rotten in them. Maybe a little dirt or a few dust bunnies in our spiritual closet, but certainly nothing that is "sin", or wrong?
Would you take a few moments to read my full teaching article on identifying and rooting out hypocrisy in our life and heart? I think you'll find it most helpful. You can find it by clicking here to read "Getting to the Root".
Until next time, favored blessings!
For further help on this subject check out our resources for this lesson entitled:
Flywheel (Director's Cut) DVD and Living without Hypocrisy, a CD series by Chip Ingram
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