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“Let Love be Without Hypocrisy (Romans 12:9-13)”
Categories: Christian life, love“Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Do we really abhor evil? We know lusting is evil, but do we abhor it? First John 2:1 says, “if anyone sins, we
have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” so is okay to sin because we can be forgiven?
Paul said, “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to
sin still live in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2) Sin is never okay! God’s children should abhor everything that is sin. If we
say we love God yet still practice sin, we are lying and the truth is not in us. We are guilty of hypocrisy.
Christians grab hold of the good.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor”
We can give preference grudgingly. Haman gave preference to Mordecai, but only because he was forced. We
can also give preference with ulterior motives. Have you ever thought about trying to be humble? Can a man’s
goal for the year be to become the most humble person among the brethren at church? That kind of defeats the
purpose! Sometimes we fake humility so people will think we are something…when we are still full of pride.
God is calling us to be truly devoted to one another and to truly give one another honor. Let it be without
hypocrisy.
“not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”
Hypocrisy in this realm looks like laziness. An associate of mine once showed me he had a video camera
positioned so he could view his employees in a different room. Apparently, they did not know the camera was
there. One day he said, “Watch this.” I looked at the video, and the four ladies on the screen were sitting around
and chatting. He told me to keep watching as he walked over to their room. In a second I could tell he had
walked in because they all-of-a-sudden began a flurry of activity! Are we like this with God’s work sometimes?
Are we only busy with His work when we think people are watching? Perhaps should remind ourselves He is
always watching. Let our work for the Lord be without hypocrisy—let’s always be busy with His work, because
it’s what He has given us to do.
“rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer”
We could be hypocritical in our daily walks. Have we ever gone through a check-out line at the grocery store,
Wal-Mart, or a fast-food joint and been rude to the cashier? Have we complained or murmured in front of our
kids, spouse, neighbors, coworkers, or brethren? These attitudes are hypocritical for a child of the eternal God!
What joy we should exude! What hope! What perseverance! We should carry a constant prayerful attitude—an
attitude of thanksgiving to God for our abundant blessings. Christians should be the most joyful of all.
“contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality”
Can we find hypocrisy in our hospitality? Do we invite people in our homes because we feel obligated? Do we
complain before they come (“I shouldn’t have invited anyone tonight because I am just stretched too thin right
now…”)? Do we complain after they leave (“Great, now the house is a mess again, and I have all these dishes
to do…”)? To love without hypocrisy is to put others above ourselves. If we could view each other as more
important than ourselves, we won’t have a problem helping each other or having each other in our homes. In
fact, we will jump at the opportunity to serve someone so great!
Let love be without hypocrisy.
