The Danger of Insincerity

Insincerity can permeate our entire lives, if we allow it to.

I was recently subbing for a special ed teacher. I’ve subbed for her before and I am familiar with the children she serves. One of them in particular, is a wild card. You truly never know what you are going to get.

He was a wide open picture of defiance, on one of my days there. He refused to do anything I asked him to, which is kind of par for the course and I really didn’t think much of it. However, at the end of the day, I thanked one of the other children I was working with, for working so hard that day. He rewarded me with a hug.

My little wild card, proceeded to tell me that it wasn’t his fault that he had behaved badly. I disagreed with him and he finally admitted that his behavior was his fault and he actually apologized. I thanked him and told him I knew we would have a better day, the next day.

Then our conversation got interesting. He told me that I didn’t have to mean it, but that he would feel better if I apologized to him too. I politely told him, “no.” He persisted, “C’mon, you don’t have to mean it, just say you are sorry.” I explained to him that I had no reason to apologize.

He finally let it drop because the bell rang and it was time for him to go home. I chuckled about our conversation a lot over the next few days. You would have to know this child to get the full effect. But, after a while, it really made me think about sincerity and how often we are insincere with our words and actions towards others and towards God.

How often do we apologize or say or do something, just to keep the peace? Sure, there are certain times when it’s better for all concerned to have a little peace, but how often are we willing to settle for the path of least resistance? How often are we willing to keep quiet or go along with people and plans that we disagree with, simply because it’s easier that way?

I think insincerity can be a soul killer. I think sometimes we allow it to permeate throughout our lives.

It sometimes even turns up in our prayers. We ask God to forgive us for some act that we have every intention of doing again. While grace grants us forgiveness, we are supposed to repent and change our ways, not just use prayer as a revolving door of insincerely asking God to forgive us.

Grace doesn’t work like that.

Perhaps we should all spend a little more time thinking and praying about what we say and do before we do it. Perhaps one of our most fervent prayers should be for God to show us where we are acting insincerely towards others and towards Him.

Maybe that’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, “Blessed be the pure of heart.”

I find that God often speaks to me through children. This time, he used a little wild card. Maybe He is speaking to you too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂