I remember preaching a series one time on finances and encouraging the people to set up a budget and to be wise with their income. At lunch, my wife asked me, “so when are we going to set up a budget?” My smart aleck response was, “I keep it in my head!” Her response, “I can’t respect you when you preach something that you’re not living yourself” That left a mark!
In my devotion, I’ve been reading through for the second time a great book by James R. Beck, Jesus & Personality Theory. In a chapter entitled “Be Trustworthy” Beck quotes St. Jerome when he wrote about the integrity needed by the clergy “…A teacher fond of good living may fill his own stomach and the discourse on the benefits of fasting; even a robber can possibly accuse others of greed; but in a priest of Christ mind and mouth should be in harmony”.
You can’t get any clearer than that. Don’t preach one thing and live another. Live what you preach…preach ONLY what you live. “nuff said!”
In my devotion, I’ve been reading through for the second time a great book by James R. Beck, Jesus & Personality Theory. In a chapter entitled “Be Trustworthy” Beck quotes St. Jerome when he wrote about the integrity needed by the clergy “…A teacher fond of good living may fill his own stomach and the discourse on the benefits of fasting; even a robber can possibly accuse others of greed; but in a priest of Christ mind and mouth should be in harmony”.
You can’t get any clearer than that. Don’t preach one thing and live another. Live what you preach…preach ONLY what you live. “nuff said!”
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