“We have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God.”
Let’s focus on the word sincerity! It’s a loaded word in the original language that means without wax! What does that mean Beau??? When a pot would get a crack in it, wax would be used to mend it and then it would be painted over. Though the pot looked perfect, it was not. Over time the wax would no longer hold and the pot once again would be useless. So be sincere is to without wax, or holes! It is referring to our life being free of hypocrisy or deceitfulness.
There is a heavy burden that we can bear when we are not honest with our failures in life. I know personally how this is. It is very difficult to share with someone your secret faults (Psalm 19:12) because we might not want to change them or we simply don’t know how people will respond to them. But in a relationship it is vital that there be an integrity within it, or else it is bound to have cracks and will eventually fall apart. That integrity is upheld through honesty first and it’s what I am focusing on here. But man it is hard to be honest especially in a religious context. And it can be so difficult in a marriage to be honest, when being honest means being an utter failure. We tend to see a lack of honesty as better than compete honesty. Who wants to show off a crack?
In marriage it is especially important to remember that both you and your partner are full of cracks. Greed, lust, jealousy, fear, resentment, hatred, envy etc..are in everyone and they manifest themselves in everyone (Mark 7:18-23). Many overlook these or rather neglect them in exchange for a ‘good’ marriage of no problems. But that is an illusion many live in within the Church. No doubt we have learned in our growing up years that the more honest you are with loved ones, the more they will see you as a person who is less than perfect, and that makes you vulnerable for what could come next! The condemnation! Oh, how fun is that?! It is so un-fun, that we would better not say anything. But the life of faith says otherwise. It says to confess, to share, to trust God.
First, you can bring your cares before God. (1st Peter 5:7)
I love this translation of Psalm 55
Psalm 55:22 (CJB) Unload your burden on ADONAI, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
People might treat you with contempt, but Jesus won’t. Neither do I condemn you He said to the woman who was caught in adultery. God desires for us to come to Him! Take the weight off and talk to him about your sex life, your lust, your desires, your inner thoughts. Most have never spoken to anyone concerning there thoughts or desires. And nor should one just tell anyone! Some do not have sexual desires in marriage, and they have never shared that either!
“Cast your burden on the Lord….” You have been bearing it all, but you need to deliberately place one end on God’s shoulder. “…the government will be upon His shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6). Commit to God whatever burden He has placed on you. Don’t just cast it aside, but put it over onto Him and place yourself there with it. You will see that your burden is then lightened by the sense of companionship. But you should never try to separate yourself from your burden. Oswald Chambers.
Next, find a person in your life that you can discuss your thoughts with!
Living in sincerity is not living sin free, but living without pretense. It’s scary, but your mind will thank you for it.
Living this way is an act of faith! Maybe radical faith. How is that? Because we have to trust in God to take care of us when we have no idea what others might think, say or do to us because of our honesty. And that’s tough. What is the payoff for such honesty? Maybe the best answer is peace and a good conscience something that is quite beneficial in life.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith… 1st Timothy 1:5
There is our word again; “sincere” faith. A faith without wax. Do I have a sincere faith? When I think of my sincere faith in my wife, I find that it quite easy to have. I see her daily and interact with her. There is evidence for her existence which I do not doubt. I also have faith in her character. She has shown time and again that she cares for me. My faith in her is sincere, it does not waiver. It is without holes.
You can trust the Christian God. The effects of the universe declare a creator. The ability to think rationally is because the world can be understood. The universe is ordered. There is natural laws and laws of logic. The evidence of God is there, as His love for you on the cross at Calvary. God so loved the world. You can be sure of that as well. We can trust God with our frailty.
God’s character is such where we can come to him without wax! I love that idea. I might be full of holes, but God is not. I can come to Him with sincere faith, because He is faithful.
Let it out, let it out
Let it out