Wisdom's Corner
Do Not Be an Actor

Have you ever watched a movie? Have you ever gone to see a play? I enjoy a good movie or play. The people in these are called actors. The best actors can make you believe that they are really the people that they are acting like. You forget that it is just make believe and it can become very real to you.

The actors that can make you do this are very good actors. You will go back and see them again in a different movie because you know they will do a very good job of making you think the movie is real. You want to be entertained. Watching good actors in a good movie is entertainment.

The people that lived during the time of the New Testament liked to be entertained. They had many theaters and watched many plays. The word we get "theater" from is a greek word used in the New Testament. In Matthew 6:1 we read, "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." The words "to be seen of them" is from the greek word for theater.

And in verse 2 we read that we are told not to be like the "hypocrites." This is from the greek word for "actor." So what God is telling us is that when we do acts of worship, we are not to be like actors. We are not to put on a play for those around us. Others may think that what we are doing is true worship, but God will know that we are just putting on a play. We are just acting like we are worshipping. We are not to entertain others around us with our worship.

Do not be an actor. Make sure that you are worshipping the way God wants you to. Be sincere. Do not play at worship. If you do not, God will not let you go to heaven.

Until next time, keep studying your Bible. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

Mark McWhorter

Copyright 1999

Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)