Going Through the Motions

The man checked his cards -- then looked up and down the table, as if he was counting everyone's stacks of chips.  He seemed to stare into space for a moment, as if he was calculating a bet.  He counted out several big chips, as if he was about to raise.  Then he adjusted them again -- and merely called before the flop.

Have you seen poker players do this sort of thing?  We sat next to one for awhile last week, during the tournament we entered in Florida.

"He's crazy," a man sitting near us said of the gesture-maker.  But that man admitted later, "He may be crazy, but he's not dumb" -- a comment made when the gesture-maker walked away for awhile, letting others fight to get to the final table.

Several other thoughts crossed our mind, as we saw the man make his machinations.  Our main thought borrowed from baseball -- that he was trying to "draw a throw," as a runner on third base might fake a start toward home plate on a fly ball.  The gestures might be designed to get other players to react, that they might reveal a "tell" about their hands.

If that was the goal, we're not really sure how well it worked for him.  But the Bible reminds us that nice gestures by themselves do NOT impress God.  Take this example from the days Jesus walked the earth:

The Pharisees and all the Jews decline to eat, till they wash their hands up to the elbow, in obedience to the tradition of the elders. - Mark 7:3, Moffatt translation

It wasn't a matter of being obsessive about cleanness -- some Bible commentaries explain this was a ceremonial show.  In other cultures (baseball comes to mind again), such acts might be called superstition.  But Jesus (the Son of God) didn't swoon at the sight of such things.

He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites.... 'They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by man.'" - Mark 7:6-7 (NIV unless noted)

Jesus went on to say such attachment to tradition caused the Pharisees to "let go of the commands of God...." (verse 8)  In fact, if we're not careful this kind of "showmanship" can become self-aggrandizing -- calling attention to self, instead of acting in a humble manner.

But in saying all this, we have to be careful.  You see, Jesus also said....

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment. - John 7:24

While top-level poker players are good at "reading" what opponents have, we really cannot fully read another player's mind - especially if we've never met him before.  So the gesture-maker really might be counting stacks and planning a grand strategy before making a pre-flop bet.  But we know who will have the final say about such things....

For the word of God is living and active.... it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:12-13

God will prove to be a better "psychic" than anyone along the rural roadside, or offering services in late-night infomercials.  He'll see right through any faking and bluffing you do, when it comes to worshiping Him.  So consider yourself and your actions - asking if you're simply a "man in motion," or fully engaged in living a life which pleases God and Jesus Christ.