Hypocrisy

Remember the parable about the talents, Matt. 25: 14-30: "One man went to a foreign country, and instructed the servants of his estate. To one he gave five talents, to another - two and to the third – 1 talent. Talent is the monetary unit. The first two have used them in business and earned profits, gave Mr. profitably. But the third dripped money, and when he came to the master, the servant said that he was afraid of the owner and the severity of him, he dripped, and the money returned to him as much as he gave him. And the lord said to the third servant "wicked and slothful servant," you knew I was a strict "on that you had to give my money ... that would get me a profit." And that servant was «thrown into darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Often this story is interpreted in such a way that we should not bury our talents, and use what God gives us and multiply it. But actually I think this parable is not talking about what the third servant did wrong, but that God always sees our hearts, and we can never fool God.

The owner punished the third servant not because he did not bring a profit, but because he was hypocritical. Hypocrisy - the contradiction between the heart and behavior, or between what you think and say. Root was not that the third servant did not bring profit, but that he really was not afraid of Mr. and pretended to be afraid. He was a liar and a hypocrite. In verse 27, Mr. explained that if you thought that I was angry and severe, much more would you have given talents into profit. He compares the mindset of a slave with his action. And thus proves that he is cunning and lazy.

I remember doing things to which I was pushed by the fear. Because I was afraid that I will be punished, I agreed to do what I did not want to do. I do not know the reasons why the first two slaves did so with the received, and how they are motivated to do so. Maybe they are just as afraid of Mr. and fear that he will   punish them, and perhaps they knew that their lord was good and trusts them and they wanted to please him. After all, in fact, Mr. did not give them a task that they multiply those talents that he gave them. The guys decided to do something wit the money. Third, in fact, wanted to do nothing but to keep from falling face in the dirt before the owner planned to deceive him. And the parable is just about the fact that God can not be deceived. God sees our hearts! God does not care what you think about Him, He still sees the heart.

Recently, I noticed that a lot of attention is paid to ways of thinking. Of course, for God it is important that His children would know Him now, and that we had the right mindset. But a strange situation that had taken place with me, made me think.

A couple of months ago, a dear girl, Anya, from my home team, told me the situation in which I was fully mistaken. A few years ago she went on  Sunday in Kiev for a concert of a rock group and therefore did not come to the Sunday service. When I found out about it, I yelled at her  that she has exchanged God for the concert. I reproached her that she was almost a  last  sinner, that did not come to the ministry. Oh, yes, I would say  that! Because that's how I was taught that on Sunday is a holy ministry. One can only miss it for two reasons: either you give birth, or you're dead, the other is not given. And I really believed in it firmly, that my relationship with God is directly dependent on the service visit. Now I remember, and I shiver how one might believe in this?? But I believed! So I cut her, and she left in tears. Going home, Ann said God, that I was not right talking to her like this and that she did not agree with what I told her, and she said that she will never go to church and to the group. And she was right! But when she came home and opened the Bible, God spoke to her through a verse of Hebrews. 13:17 "Obey your leaders and submit yourselves: for they watch over your souls, as they that must give account, that they would do it with joy and not with grief, for it is unprofitable for you." Now I understand that she had to go through pain and humility, how much stronger  she had  to be in order  to listen to God and forgive me and be obedient to Him. She never told me this. When I asked her how could you get it? She said she always knew that I loved her. Then I asked, how could you know that I love you, if I was talking to you? She said that she always remembered the good that I did it, and it strengthened her belief that I love her.

When she told me this, I thought about what wonderful people Dad gave me! And then I thought about God. I couldn’t understand how God could stand for me at the moment?? Indeed, in this situation, I was 100% wrong! I was such a lawyer, so religious, I was worse than all the Pharisees together. How could you stand up for me? Then God said to me: "But, you do love her?". "Of course!  With all my heart and soul! But  can it justify my rude attitude towards her and the pain that I brought her? "- I replied. God told me that the pain I brought Anya,  is not justified  in the eyes of the court, but in the eyes of grace - I'm justified. After all, I did it according to my way of thinking. That’s why  He told her  so. He did not tell her that I was right, but he told her that she still loved me. Because I firmly believed what I was  teaching. My words and actions were not contrary to my thinking. God saw my heart, and His grace justified me.  This story showed me that God does not care  what my thinking is: right or not. He does not care what I think about Him, He sees my heart. And even if I am wrong a thousand times but  I am honest, the Lord will cover all of my mistakes. He knew that at one time he would knock to me! And while I'm blind,  He covers all by grace.

Like in the parable of the talents. I can do the right thing and say the right words, but it would be cunning. And I can make serious mistakes and kill by my own words and actions, but it is sincere. In the first case, I will be  thrown into the darkness, while in the second I will be covered by the mercy. I know it sounds very strange, but it is God. Can I know to the  who He is and how He thinks. God is amazing and unpredictable! I love Real!