Preacher, preach to yourself. You're preaching water but drink wine. 

Counselor, follow your own advice!

Okay, that's not exactly a scripture. But the bible talks about honesty. And about not preaching one thing and doing the opposite. Or not doing yourself what you advice. Like preaching the word but not acting according to it. There is a scripture for this:

„Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.“ (James 1:22)

and let's not forget what Jesus says in Matthew 23:2-4

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. 

But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

I'm often very quick to listen and to pass the heard things on. Yet I sometimes tell people things, how they should do stuff, especially when they ask me for advice, but I myself do not really follow the advice I give. 

 (sorry, I couldn't resist.... ^_^; )

I got more aware of this during the last few weeks. Things I tell people who come with questions – surely, I try my best giving them answers that help them and are according to god's word. Still, when I get a free moment for my thoughts, I go “Oh. I'm not really following the advice I just gave them either.”

If I'm not doing what I think is right or best, how could I expect others to do it? If I'm not going according to the advice I give in my own life, how should others see that it works – or worse, will people still think I have integrity when I tell them the one thing and do the other?

I'm not saying that we shouldn't give any advice anymore. But what I mean is that we should listen to what we say and follow sincere and earnest advices we give to others ourselves. 

Let's not preach God's word and love with our words alone. 

Let's preach God's word and love with our lives!

May God open our eyes and hearts to understand and get aware of this and may he help us to become even more like Jesus and spread his light and love in this world!

God bless you! <3