Faversham Times: Thought For The Week
Published 31 May 2012

Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced ‘bouquet’) spends her life trying to impress others. Her attitude is simple, “People who try to pretend they’re superior make it so much harder for those of us who really are.” Life is about keeping up appearances, about looking good. It’s not what you are inside that counts, it’s how you play the game.

The Bible disagrees: “God doesn’t see like we see, for people look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7). God wants us to work on the inside before we worry about the outside. Jesus was hard on those who wanted to impress others with their pious outfits, lofty language and arrogant swaggers while inwardly lacking in love.

Now I’m not that bad (I hope) but I recognise I’m not perfect. Just ask my wife and children! I get it wrong more than I care to think. And like Hyacinth I’ve learnt the art of keeping up appearances which makes it hard to admit that I need help and forgiveness.

The good news is that Jesus came to transform us from the inside out. This means that instead of pretending I’m fine, I can confess I’m not, but God says that’s OK. No more games, lies, and pretence.

I may not have it all together but, thanks to God’s grace, I don’t need to. After all, Jesus would rather spend time with those who know they need help rather than with those who only know how to talk the talk.