READ:
ROMANS 2:17-24
One
challenge many believers especially those in the ministry do not take very
seriously is the need to strike a balance between their conduct and messages.
It is very disturbing to hear of ministers who engage in several demeaning acts
contrary to what they preach. Although this is becoming common place today, it
is however a very dangerous development.
Some ministers cannot remember the last time they observed family devotion in their homes, yet they preach and expect their congregations to have it regularly. This is what the Pharisees of Jesus’ day did. In Matthew 23:1-7, Jesus warned against the activities of the Pharisees. They preach but do not feel bound to adhere to the same standard, as if God uses a different standard for them. Are you like the Pharisees?
Pharisees are hypocrites. They live a lie. If you find it difficult to be faithful in your tithes yet teach others to pay it regularly, you are a hypocrite. No deceiver will enter heaven. A minister is a leader and like Jesus, you should lead others by example. Anything the congregation cannot see you do may not be taken as important, no matter how much you preach it. The message gains credibility and commands member’s obedience when the congregation sees its minister putting it into practice. A minister simply hinders his congregation from obeying the word of God by not practising the same word. Your teaching is as effective as your practise. Your secret disobedience provokes open disobedience in the flock. And God will hold such a leader accountable.
According to today’s reading, you are not expected to preach what you do not practise. Similarly, any message you teach which you fail to practise stands against you in the day of judgement. Arise and work on yourself today. Begin to put God’s word into practise before teaching it. In any case, your piety is expected to far exceed that of the Pharisees if you must make it to Heaven (Matthew 5:19).
Some ministers cannot remember the last time they observed family devotion in their homes, yet they preach and expect their congregations to have it regularly. This is what the Pharisees of Jesus’ day did. In Matthew 23:1-7, Jesus warned against the activities of the Pharisees. They preach but do not feel bound to adhere to the same standard, as if God uses a different standard for them. Are you like the Pharisees?
Pharisees are hypocrites. They live a lie. If you find it difficult to be faithful in your tithes yet teach others to pay it regularly, you are a hypocrite. No deceiver will enter heaven. A minister is a leader and like Jesus, you should lead others by example. Anything the congregation cannot see you do may not be taken as important, no matter how much you preach it. The message gains credibility and commands member’s obedience when the congregation sees its minister putting it into practice. A minister simply hinders his congregation from obeying the word of God by not practising the same word. Your teaching is as effective as your practise. Your secret disobedience provokes open disobedience in the flock. And God will hold such a leader accountable.
According to today’s reading, you are not expected to preach what you do not practise. Similarly, any message you teach which you fail to practise stands against you in the day of judgement. Arise and work on yourself today. Begin to put God’s word into practise before teaching it. In any case, your piety is expected to far exceed that of the Pharisees if you must make it to Heaven (Matthew 5:19).
MEMORIZE:
ROMANS 2:21 –You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? You
that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?
