The Religion Trap: Are You Looking Good or Being Holy?

Happy Sunday! Have you ever met someone that lived a rotten life - yet - they thought that they were God’ s gift to this world ? They have no idea that they are lost. They are blind to the truth.

Sadly this has always been part of human history. In Matthew 6 - Jesus told us about people like this - He paints quite the picture of religious hypocrites - Jesus said - “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 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 in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Jesus does not paint a flattering picture of many of these religious leaders.

In fact - In Matthew 23 - Jesus says this about those people - “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” This has been a long intro to our verse from Proverbs today - In Chapter 16, verse 2 we find this - “All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” “All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

This verse reminds me of a song by Mac Davis. In 1980 he recorded a song entitled - IT’s HARD TO BE HUMBLE - I will read the first part to you - Mac sang Oh Lord , it's hard to be humble - When you're perfect in every way - I can't wait to look in the mirror - 'Cause I get better lookin' each day - To know me is to love me - I must be a hell of a man - Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble - But I'm doin' the best I can! … I suppose I thought of that song when I read the phrase from Proverbs 16:2 - PURE IN ONE’S OWN EYES. There are folks like that among us.

These people are the hardest to reach for Christ. They think that they are perfect. They have no need for a savior. They are not sinners - in their minds.

They are pure IN THEIR OWN EYES. As a Christ follower, I am compelled to do my best to look at my life in light of scripture, not in light of my feelings. Those who are pure in their own eyes are not reading scripture. They have no place for God.

One of the greatest Christians in history - the apostle Paul said this - Paul said “ I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." Paul goes on and he says, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

Notice Paul does not say - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I was chief. - He says - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Paul knew that he was not perfect. God’s people need to remember that we are sinners saved by grace.

We must keep alert. In 1st Corinthians 10 Paul warns us - He says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” So How should we look at ourselves? D.T.

Niles said that as a Christian we are “just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” I like that. One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. Ephesians 2 reminds us - “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that none may boast.”

back to Proverbs 16:2 -“All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.” As the Lord weighs our spirits, may he find that we are THANKFUL that we have a Savior - because on our own - we are nothing.