Façades

Proverbs 29:24 (KJV) Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

This verse brought to mind a podcast I was watching where a woman was expressing how happy she was to be unmarried, childless, living alone, and approaching middle age.  I heard the words.  I’m afraid I didn’t believe them.  Certain types of people are expressed in this verse as hating their own souls.

We see people around us, smiling, and laughing.  I don’t know how many times they have to make some commercials in order to get the exact proper effect.  I still remember a billboard for some beer, where the waitress was walking along with a whole bunch of bottles, and this glowing look of happiness on her face.  I wonder how many models they had to interview in order to find the expression they were looking for.

We need to understand that just because people look happy doesn’t mean that they are.  What’s somewhat amusing is that in the church the opposite can also be true.  Just because someone looks like a sour puss doesn’t mean that they are.  Engage them in conversation and you’ll find out that there is an inner joy.  They can’t help it if their face is sagging.

So?  Always focus on the inner man both in those around you and within yourself.  Rejoice in the God of your salvation.  Notice that the root word in rejoice is joy.