The Pain of Hypocrisy (An Unexpected Lesson)

“Be careful to do the things that you demand of others. If you give yourself a pass, you might get hurt.”

 

This was an insight that God gave me when I asked him for wisdom in a brief, painful situation. I had just turned away from setting something on the washing machine, turned to walk back into the kitchen when sudden, searing pain shot through my left temple.

As I yelled Ow! and hunched over in pain, taking deep breaths and marveling that no profanities had escaped my mouth, I was stunned at my own stupidity and hypocrisy.

 

How many times have I walked through the kitchen, ranting at the boys to close the cupboards? I hate the unkempt way it makes everything look when cupboards are left open.

 

In my haste to grab some command hooks and make quick work of cleaning up and organizing the million motorcycle helmets that clutter our mud room, I had grabbed the hooks and left the cupboard door open.

I don’t remember it. It was done absentmindedly.

 

So as I was hunched over, I asked God what he wanted me to learn in that moment, because I realized I was the one to blame. How much easier it would have been if I could have hollered at the boys for leaving a cupboard door open! But I couldn’t, because I was the culprit.

And in that moment God was quick to remind me that I will be held to the same standard that I impose on others. 

 

Wow. 

 

As someone who often accidentally moves herself into a glass house, I’m thankful for this painful reminder from the Lord, that I should be careful not to throw stones.

 

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries ^a wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; They love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Matthew 23:1-12

Comments

[Heidi Brons-Aasen]

Thanks for sharing wisdom during a painful situation. Sometimes we need a hard reminder of the expectations we put on others, yet we don't follow through ourselves....