a mark of a wise person is they don't try to hide and disguise their own weaknesses. james 3.17 (niv), wisdom is…impartial and sincere. the message says, it is not two-faced.
in the greek theater they often would have just a couple or three actors playing an entire play. these people would change parts. they would hold masks in front of their faces. one person would have five or six different masks and parts and that person, that actor, was called a hypocrite. they have all kinds of masks.
james says if you're smart and wise, you're not phoney. you don't wear masks, and try to be something you're not. i used to tell the people in the church i pastored that if you are perfect we are not the church for you. this is for real people, with real sins, real hang ups, real faults, real emotional problems, real family problems.
real wise people are honest and open, they're not phony. they're genuine. they're real and authentic. "what you see is what you get" with a really wise person. they don't attain or pretend perfection.
if i'm wise i'm not going to disguise my weaknesses. there are so many phony relationships today. people try to be something they're not.
the number one place you see it is in single's bars. phony relationships. where else in our society do you offer to buy something for a total stranger? phony! trying to be something you're not.
proverbs 28:13 (tev), you will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. it's dumb to pretend that you're perfect, that you've got it all together because nobody does.
when you start telling people your weaknesses they are not going to be shocked because they already know. everybody knows your weaknesses. you're the only one who won't admit it. we see each other's weaknesses all the time. why do we walk around pretending that we don't know? we do. it's obvious to everyone. but we don't want to admit it.
if i'm wise i won't disguise my weaknesses. people appreciate honesty, being gut level and sharing where they are. it also helps them to be more open. they might be struggling with it too.
just some thoughts up here on the front porch…
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