This week I have been noticing how often I don’t like reflections. I complain that the camera catches my bad side. I yell that the mirror must be broken. I bark that the blood test must be wrong because my cholesterol can’t be that high. It’s just not fair! I feel good. I feel young. I can’t go bald. No way that I am getting wrinkled or unhealthy! So, I want to blame the tests and reflections that I see.
The problem is that those are just the physical reflections. There are deeper reflections that ought to bother me more. My attitudes and relationship with God are reflected all over my life. They are reflected in my children, my relationship with my wife, my language, and my checkbook. My children catch my faith. My language shows my heart. My giving shows what I truly value. How I treat my wife shows the reality of my claim to be a “family man”.
For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. – 2 Corinthians 9:1-2
Paul told the Corinthians that their zeal for giving had inspired others, yet he felt the need to send Titus to collect their gift. Why? He sent Titus because he was worried that they might be ashamed if, by their forgetfulness, they forgot to give.
There is so much of life that is like that. We mean well, but if we were honest we would see that the reflection doesn’t fully measure up to our ideal. How about this – instead of simply believing that what we say is what we do, let’s look at our reflection and see if there are some things that need to change so that what we do does truly reflect what we say we believe.
Think about this question (and I didn’t come up with this one on my own!) – “When all is said and done will you have said more than you have done?”
Something to think about,
Pastor John
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