Counterfeit humility
Colossians 2:18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.
In the above passage, Paul warns Christians not to be taken in by deceptive and attractive words. These claims are attractive, but are merely tricks: they sound true, but they are not. For example some Christians always say: ”God showed me a vision, or God spoke to me in a dream.” These people would like to portray themselves as spiritually on a higher level category by uttering such false things. Beware!
Like counterfeit currency notes, you have this ‘Counterfeit humility’ that people feign to gain recognition and favour. As a Principal working with students and parents for more than a decade and also serving as a preacher and Evangelist for more than two decades, I sure have wealth of experience with ‘counterfeit humility.’
One particular father, of tribal community from village, joined his 3 children in Abide School and were the first batch who joined us through a local church. He looked very humble and would lift his hands above his head and wished me every day, not a day passed without him wishing me this way; however, as the children grew up, they became rebellious and the true character of the father was revealed one day, when he came and fought with me. I carried his kids, fed them, taught them and nurtured them, in fact, the first slate pencil was put in the fingers of his little daughter by me, but his heart got proud, he broke my heart to million pieces, after this person several of them did this to me. When a person comes to touch my feet, I know this one is capable to pull it too one day! Caveat! Be cautious of counterfeit humility!
The words ‘False humility is demonic’, kept ringing in my ears, therefore, I sat to write this sermon. It’s like pride wearing a ‘HOLY MASK’ called humility thereby camouflaging the true ugliness. During these 40 days of fasting, we sure need to examine out hearts!
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Matthew 23:15
These are some of Christ' harshest words against the religious teachers of ancient Israel. Jesus said that they go to great length to make a single convert and when they had succeeded, instead of pointing them to Christ the Messiah, they would give them the extra burden of more rules and regulations and those converted were likely to follow the wrong teachings of the Pharisees even more closely than the Pharisees did themselves!
Main lesson to learn today, we need to be connected to right mentor and right Church who will lead you to Jesus and make you like Him.
