There is a daffy definition which says, ”Always be sincere, whether you mean it or not.”

This definition goes against the very meaning of the word, since Webster’s dictionary tells us that sincere means to be without pretense or hypocrisy.

The etymology of the word sincere is interesting. In ancient Rome the statue business flourished. It was the ”in” thing to have marble statues in your home and so there were a great many sculptors to fill this demand. In every business there are those who do quality work and those who make poor substitutes. It seems that the less qualified sculptors would use wax to fill in cracks and to cover up their mistakes. Some became so proficient at this that it was hard to tell a genuine solid marble sculpture from those which had been filled with wax.

If you wanted an authentic statue of fine quality, you would go to the artisan marketplace and look for the signs at the booths marked sine cera – without wax. In the sine cera booths you would find the real thing.

Our word sincere came from the Latin word sincerus, which is derived from sine cera, meaning without wax. For us to be sincere, we need to be the real thing, not filled with wax; not pretending to be what we are not.

Paul told the Philippians that he wanted them to ”approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.”

Joshua laid down a challenge to the children of Israel just prior to his death. It applies just as much to us today, living in the last days just before the return of the greater Joshua to lead us into the promised land and establish his kingdom. He said, ”Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth.”

There is nothing we have to do that is more important that this, to serve our Lord in sincerity and truth. Nothing phony, no pretending, no wax. No false doctrines. Paul picks up this same thought and says almost the same words. ”Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Going back to Joshua, he continues by giving us a choice of gods to serve. He first told the children of Israel to ”put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

There is no sincerity and truth involved if you are trying to serve God and mammon. The Lord Jesus says you cannot do it. Don’t try. Get rid of the wax, do not be insincere.

Let our answer be the same as the children of Israel who said to Joshua so long ago. ”God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods.” Joshua challenged them because he wanted them to be sincere. They responded to his challenge again by saying, ”The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”

Our wish for you is the same as Paul’s was to those who lived in Ephesus. ”Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.