When I consider buying something new, I look at the reviews. Our hyper-connected society yields at least one benefit—I can learn about a product from actual users before I spend my hard-earned money.

Which leads me to the most unhelpful product reviews on the world-wide web. These arise from people who gleefully unbox their new toaster, or running shoes, or garden shears and immediately post, “Looks great right out of the box!” Or this one, always with 5 stars, “I haven’t used it yet, but I can’t wait to start!” Obviously, they did wait to start, as least long enough to post an inane review.

I hear this personally as well. Encouraged to read the latest book on an important topic, I discover the enthusiast hasn’t actually read the work, only heard it was good. A person with 10,000 emails in his inbox pushes me to organize mine in a new way. I’m goaded to cut out coffee by someone who never woke up anticipating that first sip of the dark elixer of life.

Why do I find such advice annoying?

Because these people are preaching without actually practicing.

Which brings my rant to Jesus.

Jesus summed up his condemnation of the religion of the Pharisees with a simple line—they do not practice what they preach.

As they pushed advice and religious duties on others, the Pharisees posted reviews without actually living out their teachings. You want to read a rant about how they lived and taught? Check out Matthew 23—now that’s a bad review.

Jesus brings clarity. If I want to live my faith in such a way that others notice and find even slightly compelling, I must practice what I preach.

Matthew 23 in week thirty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by John Schnobrich