By bro Lee Tian Seng
3. Sincere Conduct
We are to conduct ourselves in sincerity towards others. There should not be evil intentions or malice in our dealings with others. Neither should we pretend to care for others but deep inside we only want to gain their favour.
The wealthy desire to show their possessions and the learned their knowledge, but God wants Christians to live simply and humbly. We should not try to be someone we are not. Be yourself; be sincere.
The apostle Paul said that he and his companions are known to have conducted themselves in simplicity and godly sincerity.
2 Corinthians 1:12 - For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
This quality is most precious to God and Christians should not lose it. The apostle Paul prayed that the Christians in Philippi “approve the things that are excellent”, to seek to live in such an excellent way. One of the ways is that they continue to be sincere in their conduct until our Lord’s return.
Philippians 1:10 - that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
4. Sincere Words
When teaching the doctrines of God, we should be careful to be sincere. We speak only the words of God and not our own. Some attempt to commodify the words of God. Their motive is not pure but covetous and stems from greed. The apostle Paul assured the brethren that he was not like those “peddling the word of God” but one who spoke sincerely the words of God.
2 Corinthians 2:17 - For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
There were Jews who created havoc in the early church with their false teachings. They were speaking not sincerely but with selfish motives. Their motive was to “add affliction” to the apostle by causing division and damage in the church by their false teaching.
Philippians 1:16 - The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains.
In the epistle to Titus, the apostle Paul exhorted young men to show integrity, reverence and incorruptibility in the preaching of the words of God. There is a great need for all teachers and preachers of God’s word to take heed of this commandment. Are we honestly preaching Christ and His kingdom the way God wants us to? Are we preaching the truth of His words or the doctrines of men?
Titus 2:7 - In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity
5. Sincere Love
Finally, we need to show sincere love towards God and men. There is no way one can be hypocritical in loving God - God knows the hearts of men! However, one could love God insincerely by not loving Him completely. Our Lord Jesus teaches that we must love God whole-heartedly, nothing less.
Matthew 22:37 - Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
There were Christians in Ephesus who love the Lord in sincerity. Can you imagine that kind of pure and undivided love they had towards God? Some Christians are divided in their love towards God because they love the world more, their families more and themselves most.
Ephesians 6:24 - Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
We also need to be sincere in our love towards our brethren and that can only be possible if we love with a pure heart. When we give to the poor or help the weak and sick in the church, we should not do it out of obligation or peer pressure, but because we love them so much in our hearts.
1 Peter 1:22 - Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
Romans 12:9 - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
When we work on our inside with God’s word, we will be sincere in our faith, works, conduct, words and love.