This post is meant to be a reminder to myself and my friends how our behavior confirms the things we verbalize and write. James tells us in James 1:22-27 that we must add some action to what we say and hear. He says if we don't, we are just fooling ourselves, because we aren't fooling God. Then he goes on to add that it is very important that we control our tongues, and if we can't we are also fooling ourselves.
We really have to be careful, mindful and on guard as we interact daily with our family, friends, co-workers, employees, customers, as well as strangers we encounter. If we are completely honest, with ourselves, we would admit that we are not in that "Sunday Church Spiritual Mood", every minute of every day. I would dare say that the majority of our daily thoughts focus on our jobs, family, and other distractions of daily life, with periodic prayers and conservations with God.
My Christian brothers and sisters it's so important how we respond to potentially condemning daily situations. How do we respond when a store clerk is rude to us! How do we deal with people we supervise? Would we tell the truth, if we were facing unpleasant consequences? Would it be easier to rationalize to ourselves and not be honest to save face? If you were confronted with a potentially embarrassing situation would you admit the truth or lie? It has been a very difficult time for you $$$ wise, and one day you find a wallet with $200 dollar. Do you say thank you Jesus for providing me with this blessing, or do you try to return it to its rightful owner? You have a business, are you honest with your billings, and do provide the best services as you can. How do your employees or people you supervise view you? What are they saying about you in private? You are selling a car and you know that there is significant unseen problem with it, would you disclose it to the perspective buyer? How do you treat people who are less educated and less affluent than you? When was the last time you gave not expecting a tax write off? When was the last time you checked on the senior citizen who lives several houses from you? How many of us participate in foolish gossip? This is a problem for both males and females alike, and so easy to get caught up in.
The scriptures tells us that we must slay daily impure thoughts,eagerness for lustful pleasures, hostility,quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfishness, divisiveness, envy, etc. The scriptures gives us norm by which to check our spirituality, and they are called " Fruits of the Spirit". You can always tell a tree by the fruit it bears! If we are Spiritual then our fruits will be love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I am reminded that Paul did not say that if we exhibit 50% of these we are in good shape, no God does not grade on a curve! Jesus told us the great New Commandments was love, and on this commandment hang all the laws and the prophets. The scriptures tells us that love covers a multitude of sins. It not by accident that love is listed as the first fruit of the spirit. How can we say we love the Lord, who we never met, and not love the people we interact with daily?
We who speak openly about our faith, we who preach, and teach have to be especially cautious of our behavior. The old saying that "people who live in glass houses should not throw stones." Our teachings and professions may be considered by some as, "holier than thou", and offensive. So if we stumble and fall those with these feeling will be the first to say,"I know they were just fake " they are just a bunch of hypocrites."
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