Sunday, January 6, 2019

Sparkling Bright Tombs

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Matthew 23:25–28

Leona Helmsley was famous for two things. She was fabulously wealthy, and she was mean. Helmsley was so harsh to those who worked for her that she was called “The Queen of Mean.” She even used her image as a demanding perfectionist in advertising for her hotels. Helmsley’s relationship with her family was no better than the one with her staff. In fact, the largest beneficiary in her will was her beloved dog Trouble, to whom she left $12 million. Also in her will was the instruction that the dog be buried next to her in a mausoleum. She even left money to have the mausoleum washed or steam-cleaned at least once a year.

Many people are more concerned with outward appearance than with what is on the inside. While appearances do matter to our testimony, they are far less important than our character. No matter how successfully we may conceal what is within our hearts, God sees and knows every thought and desire we have. And no matter how often we wash and scrub or even steam clean the part that people see, if we are dirty on the inside, the best that we can accomplish is to be sparkling bright tombs. The heart is where God looks, and it should be our focus as well.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

If we make sure that what is in the heart is right, the outside will require far less effort.