Because Donna had a difficult pregnancy and the doctor placed her on bed rest, working for a friend, the owner of a roofing company became necessary. On a particular service call as I parked my truck, I thought this young couple must be doing well financially with a BMW and Mercedes parked in the driveway of their massive house in an upscale neighborhood. Entering the front door, I noticed the living area and the kitchen furnished with high-end expensive furniture and appliances. The repair required me to go upstairs and exit out on to a balcony. As I went into the master bedroom heading toward the balcony, I was overwhelmed at what I saw in contrast to the exquisite downstairs. Only a single mattress lay on the floor—no furniture, no pictures, nothing. Finding the leak required I go into several rooms. I discovered all the upstairs rooms were empty. It appeared that the stunning outside, the cars, and expensive furniture in the living area downstairs were a mere façade.
For the rest of the day, I asked myself, why. Why would people put on such an extravagant charade outside and downstairs then live like paupers in the remainder of their house? Any guest seeing only the downstairs would leave thinking how successful this couple appeared. Maybe that was their intention. I wondered if they got in over their heads. Was it pride? Maybe they were just ‘trying to keep up with the Jones.’ However, in their case, they were only pretending to keep up with the Jones.
Putting up a façade isn’t new. There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth (Pro 13:7). A major portion of Jesus’ preaching centered on the subject of hypocrisy in other words pretending. The word hypocrite originated from the Greek theater and referred to the masks actors held over their face portraying the character they played. Today, we often see this symbolized by two masks, one happy face, and the other a sad face. Jesus repeatedly called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites adding they were fools, blind guides, whited sepulchers, murderers, and a generation of snakes. It is obvious God detest pretenders. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God (Luke 16:15). A Christian mask does not deceive God. He is backstage in the theater of life and sees the real person.
People pretend to be someone they aren’t because they are insecure with who they are and who God has made them. This lack of self-confidence and desire to fit in with others causes them to play certain roles. Parents and the church should teach children from the earliest age that God fearfully and wonderfully made them and help them develop into that person through living a Spirit filled life. All believers must learn they can draw their value from God not what others think. People who live pretending to be someone they aren’t often are lonely and unhappy people. Just note the successful people who appeared happy and satisfied but committed suicide.
After years, I became tired of pretending to be what others wanted. Through the Holy Spirit, I crawled off the stage of pretend, threw away my multiple facades, and became the person God made me. As I strove to develop the real me, I soon lost the preoccupation with what others thought. I did not need other people’s approval because I understood I had God’s approval through what Christ did.
When a Christian begins this process, they are no longer tense and worrying if they are wearing the correct mask or searching for words to impress others. They discover the LORD will use them in ministry in ways they never dreamed possible. I have written before and said in almost every class I taught, “God cannot anoint your mask.” He can only fully empower the person He designed you to be, and you are ministering in the role He assigned you.
No one can ever keep up with the Jones—materially or spiritually—because the Jones are trying to keep up with the Smiths. Moreover, the world’s standard keeps moving up and one-step out of reach. A huge house in the élite neighborhood with immaculate furniture for others to see will always be a charade leaving empty rooms. Don’t leave any room in our life empty. Let God help you off the stage, throw away the masks, and live the fullness of life God has for you.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Don’t be afraid to live out the life of the person God made you. This brings Him glory and no one else’s opinion matters.