“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23: 1-3 KJV).
There are many things that leaders do that cause them to lose the respect and confidence of their followers. One of the most disastrous errors is when they contradict themselves. Often a leader will put in place restrictions and regulations to govern the people, but will not govern themselves by the same restrictions and regulations. For instance, during the Covid pandemic, the masses were put under strict regulations to prevent the spread of the virus. However, we found out that many in government who were the biggest advocates of those regulations did not govern themselves in the same way. We were to do as they said because of their position of governance but if we did as they did we would be jailed.
The same happens all the time with religious leaders as well. It is a known fact that many church leaders, past and present, preached what the Bible said while they were in the pulpit, but did not live as it said in their private life. I have known liars to preach against lying. I have known adulterers to preach against adultery. I have known thieves who preached against stealing. I know many who love the world and preach against the love of the world. I know people who love money who preach against the love of money. They preach and teach men to do the right thing, to do what the Bible says, to do the God-honoring thing, but failed to do it themselves. They are not what they are telling us to be. They did not practice what they preached. People could follow their preaching and teaching but could not follow their example. We should do as they say but not as they do. We are not demanding perfection, just focusing on the importance of someone following their own advice. They honor God with their lips but their heart is far from Him.
Jesus told the multitude and His disciples to follow and do what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching because they were teaching the truth from the writings of Moses. But they were not to live as they lived because they were not living according to those same truths.
A hypocrite who does not live the truth can preach the truth and the listener can be blessed if they obey that truth because God’s word does not return unto Him void, but accomplishes the work He sent it out to do (Is. 55: 11). It is always better though to listen to a man that has submitted to the word of God and has experienced the same things he is talking about and is an example of the truths he is telling us to live by.
Paul was an example of everything he preached and taught and told others to follow him because he was following Christ (Philippians 3: 17). To preach truth is one thing but to preach and then do what we preach is something else entirely. We must all, from the pulpit to the pew, from the shepherd to the sheep be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1: 22).
I Wish
I wish that I could reach inside,
And pull the scoundrel out.
Grab him by the nap of the neck,
And shake him all about.
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I wish that I could find his post,
And tear him from his place.
Though he’s tightly affixed to me,
He’s loathsome and so base.
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I wish that I could silence him,
By tearing out his tongue.
I wish that I could take his thoughts,
And have them all unstrung.
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I wish him the utmost malice,
Since he’s my undoing.
He is the man inside of me,
Who thinks himself the king.
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I know he’s the friend of Satan,
For they have the same will.
They want me to follow their way,
And defy my Lord’s will.
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For what I would I do not do,
And do what I would not.
Since we contradict each other,
I can’t be as I ought.
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For he’s against that which I know,
Is Jesus’s best for me.
He stands against me ev’ry time,
When I with Christ agree.
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But I need not worry o’er him,
But watch him slowly die.
See all his powers ebb away,
As I on Christ rely.
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What I wish I will one day have;
The old man fin’ly dead.
For at the coming of Jesus,
Of him I will be shed.
James Cagle©️
