Inside, Outside, Upside, Downside.

Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

I’ve been wondering how much it shows from our outward life what is inside our hearts. If I tend to keep a messy room or house does it mean that I don’t keep my body that clean either, or my spirit? social life? soul? mind? heart?

My choices of where I spend my time are probably a good hint. Will I choose to keep the outside of my house clean and the lawn and gardens trimmed just to put up a good front to anyone walking by while the inside of my house is a dump? Can I honestly say that I will rather do something for someone else before I’ll take the time to sew the latest clothes just to make sure that I keep up appearances?

I find that a smile can paint a face while there is much resentment inside the heart. We can hang on to a hurt or insult rather than forgive and forget and yet be the friendliest person around. I can be the first one to show up at church, work and meals, but also the first to criticize, point a finger, and find fault. We can say ‘thank you very much’ when complaints and ingratitude are coming out of our ears.

If there is any indication in the way I keep house, there are rooms upstairs that no one ever sees and they are quite dusty. No guest goes there and no one will ever know. Are there also such places in my heart? Are there unkempt places that I should be paying more attention to? Like thoughts and relationships?

What about all the things that need doing around me? There are jobs that pile up so that I’m not sure where to start some days. Well, there is also an overwhelming amount of invisible places that need improvement and balance. Being a good parent, wife, cook, keeping a good attitude, learning God’s word and living by it is so much to keep up. Brushing teeth, combing hair and being neatly dressed is a breeze compared to the tremendous task of keeping a guard over one’s own heart.

The one thing that I always have to watch for is finding the faults of others and being blind to my own. Whenever I do it, and I do, there is no doubt that I will find the very same things in me to whatever degree; all I have to do is look. “Oh, my situation is different.” Note the sarcasm, please! The only reason God gives us insight into someone else’s faults is so that we can pray for them.