A group of church members were discussing their new pastor.

“For some reason,” said one man, “I really don’t feel at ease with him. I believe he’s a good man, all right—but something seems to stand between us.”

Another member replied, “Yes, I think I know what you mean. I used to have that problem, but now I don’t. The pastor and I have great fellowship.”

“What did he do to make things better?”

“He didn’t do anything,” said the friend. “/ did the changing. I decided to be open and honest about things, the way he is. There isn’t one stain of hypocrisy in his life, and there was so much pretending in mine that we just weren’t on the same wavelength. He and I both knew I was a phony. Since I’ve started to live an honest Christian life, everything is better.”

One problem with dishonesty is that just keeping a record of our lies and pretenses is a full-time job! Abraham Lincoln said that if a man is going to be a liar, he’d better have a good memory. When a person uses up all his energy in pretending he has nothing left for living and life becomes shallow and tasteless. A person who pretends not only robs himself of reality, but keeps himself from growing; his true self is smothered under the false self.

The Scripture says: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4, NASB).

Also read: Proverbs 12:19, 22; Philippians 4:8.

Action assignment: Is there phoniness in your life? Confess it to the Lord and weed it out. Work on developing a more honest and Christlike you.