Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is one of the many enemies of the faith. Unfortunately, grabbing the attention of many may not be enough for professional hypocrites. Professional hypocrite in spiritual mode claims glory for their works. T is a person who profits by distracting others inside and outside religious gatherings. H would want his left hand to know what his right hand is doing, and of course, he is aware of his deeds.
In my personal experience in the past, in a small church gathering of 20-30 believers, during the giving of tithes, a new member stood up waving on his right hand a $100 bill as high as he could so everyone could see how much he was giving. W at was his intention? Was it a motive for everyone to follow him? Nobody knew because he was the only one that knew what he did. However, many were impressed by his gesture. If that is his weekly tithes, the church maintenance will be in shape. Fast forwarding our curiosity, we discovered that he is not a tither but a generous giver.
Many scriptures mention hypocrisy and allow me to give you a couple.
Jesus said in Matthew 6, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that others may praise them. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be secret. And your Fat er who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that others may see them. Truly, I say to you they have received their reward…”
Matthew 23 “ For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. “Woe to you teaches of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do n t enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
We must be mindful that our confidence will not be interpreted as arrogance. We know God is a great provider of our needs, and we should not mix this doctrine with what we want. God works for our needs and lets our wants b filled with our work; of course, we always need the assistance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, religious hypocrisy is not condoned in our belief system.
Let us work in unity for the glory of God and not for our own. Let us work in the ministry, keeping in mind that God sees it. Let selflessness run in our minds and rough out our bodies. Let the joy of our heart shares it w h the whole part of our body.
Let us stay under the wings of the Almighty God and be blessed.