The story is told about a thief who was nabbed. The incident took place back in
1887 in a small neighborhood grocery store when a middle-aged gentleman, Emanuel
Nenger, gave the cashier a $20 bill to pay for the turnip greens he was
purchasing. When the cashier placed the bill in the cash drawer she noticed that
some of the ink from the $20 came off on her hands which were wet from wrapping
the turnip greens.
She'd known Mr. Nenger for years and was shocked. She thought, "Is this man
giving me a counterfeit $20 bill?" But she dismissed the thought immediately and
gave him his change. But $20 was a lot of money in those days so she notified
the police who, after obtaining a search warrant, went to Emanuel Nenger's home
where they found in his attic the tools he was using to reproduce the
counterfeit $20 notes. They found an artist's easel, paint brushes, and paints
which Nenger was using to meticulously paint the counterfeit money. He was a
master artist.
The police also found three portraits that Nenger had painted - paintings that
sold at public auction for a little over $16,000! The irony was that it took him
almost as much time to paint a $20 note as it did to paint those portraits which
sold for more than $5,000 each.
That story reminds me of folks who spend a lot of time and effort creating an
"image" which they can present to people they come in contact with. They will go
out of their way to make you think they are generous or kind or have some other
godly quality. The irony is that it takes almost as much effort to create these
"masks" as it does to develop the qualities themselves -- which are infinitely
more valuable!
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed
tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's
bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men,
but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matt. 23:27-28)
Take a moment to consider -- are you more interesting in developing a godly
heart, or in trying to make people *think* you have a godly heart?
Have a great day!
Alan Smith Alan.Smith@whcoc.com
www.TFTD-online.com
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