EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
Be cautious, do not become vain in serving Jesus.
We can be sucked into a person’s virtues, believing how wonderful they are… but be alert to all their successes. Be aware for your own life as well.
Vain-glory hides under the guise of virtue.
Are accolades wanted for everything accomplished?
Are others kept from allowing to see weakness or failures?
Does one try to appear humble in conversation, yet find ways to inject their great accomplishments into conversations?
Maybe they brag about who they know. Do all their acts of service need to be noticed or do they pray but for attention and then gossip within their prayer? The list can go on. Let’s also check ourselves dear sister. We must regularly examine our hearts before God.
Vain-glory is admonished in Matthew 6:1-8, 16, 18)
“…when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”
“…whenever you pray, do not pray like the hypocrites…”
“When you are praying do not heap up empty phrases as Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that you’re fasting maybe not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”