Am I a Hypocrite?: How I Appear

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite? -John Wesley’s 1st Question

Am I a Hypocrite?

“Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?” Basically, am I seeking to put the focus on myself? If you find this to be a challenging question (which I do) then John Wesley created 22 more questions for you to ask yourself. His first question, quoted above, seems to be about Matthew 6 when Jesus is telling his disciples not to give, fast, or pray in such a way for others to notice.

If I can extrapolate on what Jesus is saying, and what Wesley is saying in question six: Seeking self-focus is a common pitfall we must ward against. But why? Why does Jesus say we should do things like prayer or almsgiving in secret? Why does Wesley ask if we’re being a hypocrite? Before answering those questions, you must ask yourself why you’re acting like this in the first place. The answer, as Jesus says, all comes down to reward. These are rewarding activities or demeanors; yes, acting self-pitying is meant to evoke a response from others. We want to be built up because it makes us feel good about ourselves. This type of ‘feel-good’ viewpoint of ourselves is an earthly reward i.e. an un-Godly reward. Jesus says, “I say to you, they have received their reward” (5).

Jesus’s warning and Wesley’s questions prompt us to consider whether we seek an earthly reward or a Heavenly reward. After all, “your Father who sees in secret will repay you” (4). The next time you start to create an impression of yourself outside of Christ’s image, stop and think of Wesley’s question, understand your intent, consider the consequences, and always improve the present moment.