Veneer, Flattery & Righteousness

“We commend ourselves in every way ….. with weapons

of righteousness in the right hand and in the left.”
II Corinthians 6:4,7

The desk and one of the filing cabinets in my school office have the appearance of being made of well polished oak but that’s only until you take a closer look. The wood grain look is in reality the thinnest of veneers, a surface illusion of quality and beauty that cannot stand up to the slightest bit of scrutiny or inspection. You’ve heard the saying that beauty is only skin deep? Well, it’s true of my office furniture but that matters very little compared to when we start to talk about spiritual matters, when a thin veneer of righteousness is covering our hearts, and when our commitment to the Lord and to His kingdom is only skin deep.

Every study out there says that the number one reason for people, and especially young people, leaving the church and not continuing in the Christian faith is hypocrisy, not seeing what is spoken about in public and declared to be right, lived out in the personal lives of those they are closest to. Living out Christianity in a condition where “these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13) is the most destructive situation we can find ourselves in. David warned of the danger of the person who “in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.” (Psalm 36:2) Self flattery, being so taken with ourselves that we’re not able to see ourselves clearly and honestly, can be an insurmountable obstacle to change and growth and, in the end, to having any real and lasting positive impact on the lives of others.

The apostle Paul made an interesting statement in describing his ministry and its source of strength, saying that he was equipped with “weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left.” There is such incredible power in righteousness, in doing what God has said is right. One man said “God’s laws are parameters to live by – the truths he knows are going to provide blessings, strength, a future and hope.” Spurgeon said that “God’s law is a gift of great kindness for it tells us the wisest and happiest way of living.” Are you looking for a sure formula for success and blessing? How about trying to live out everything God has said is right and true! And add to that requiring of ourselves anything and everything we require of others. Let’s approach the New Year committed to there being no veneer in our lives, to not giving in to a self flattery that fools only us, and to immersing ourselves in a righteousness that is so incredibly powerful that we will find ourselves armed and ready for God’s very best!

God Bless
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church