You’re Never Too Young To Learn

What’s it called when someone says one thing but does the opposite?

2 Chronicles 28:1-27

Reference: And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? (2 Chronicles 28:10 NIV)

Explore: Although one of our boys is only six, my husband decided to teach him the word ‘hypocrite’. Our young boy had a tendency to say one thing but do another, and so, Cameron was keen to pick him up on it.

After explaining the definition, it’s now about establishing its meaning in everyday life. Whenever something happens that’s hypocritical, Cameron will say to our boy, “What’s it called when someone says one thing but does the opposite?”

Our boy is very clever and so he’ll confidently say, “That’s a hippocritomus!” Ha, he may have the definition correct, but we’re still a little away from making the word itself not sound like a safari animal!

Application: Unfortunately, this word could come up often in our household.  We all do our best to have our walk follow our talk, but it doesn’t always happen. When we find others have tripped up on their actions, we must be careful that we don’t point the finger before we have a good look at ourselves.

Even the Israelites in this passage had to be reminded of how close they were to their own imperfection. It’s not always easy to acknowledge our failings, but it allows us to appreciate others who fall too.

Prayer: Give me courage, O Lord, to stand firm in my convictions but be honest and humble when – not if – I fall. Amen.

When have your actions failed to follow your words?

2 Chronicles, action; hypocrite, integrity, words