“Lord, Lord”… and the LinkedIn KPI Problem

You know that person.

The one who can open a meeting with “Let’s align”… then misalign your soul by 10:07am. The one whose bio says “Integrity | Servant Leadership | God First”… but their procurement file says “Kindly expedite.”

Now picture this scene:

It’s judgment day. And a group of very confident people walk in carrying what looks like a spiritual PowerPoint deck:

• “We prophesied.”

• “We cast out demons.”

• “We did miracles.”

• “We did BIG work.”

And then Jesus says something that should make every performer sit down gently:

“I never knew you… depart from me.”

That’s **Gospel of Matthew 7:21–23 in one terrifying sentence: Not everyone who can say the right words belongs to the right life.

And here’s the twist: this passage is not just about church. It’s about everywhere humans confuse performance with substance—family, work, relationships, and politics.

It’s also one of the sharpest management lessons you’ll ever read, disguised as a Bible verse.

The world is full of “Lord, Lord” people

Translation for 2026:

“Not everyone who says ‘I’m loyal’ is loyal.” “Not everyone who says ‘I love you’ loves you.” “Not everyone who says ‘I’m a leader’ can lead.” “Not everyone who says ‘We serve the people’ has ever served anything except themselves.”

Some people are excellent at sounding right. They can quote values the way DJs mix hits.

But the passage is basically saying:

Stop mistaking loud claims for quiet obedience

Because in the end, the scoreboard isn’t what you posted. It’s what you practiced.

The universal trap: the human love for “looking like”

We don’t just want to be good. We want to look good fast.

Because “becoming” takes time. But “branding” takes a weekend and a Canva template.

So we build a life around signals:

• “In your name…” (brand association)

• “We did…” (deliverables)

• “We achieved…” (impact report)

• “We launched…” (announcing, not doing)

And then we start confusing the badge for the battle.

This is why the world has:

• Faith without fruit

• Leadership without love

• Power without principle

• Work without wisdom

• Romance without respect

• Politics without people

Where this verse shows up in real life

1) Family life

Some people are providers but not partners. They bring rent, school fees, and a serious face… but not warmth.

Their home is funded, but emotionally bankrupt.

They want to be celebrated for the title—“father,” “mother,” “husband,” “wife”— but dodge the daily, unsexy work of that title: patience, listening, repair, gentleness.

You can’t parent by invoice. You can’t love by transfer.

2) Workplaces

Ah yes. The modern cathedral: the office.

Some managers are “results-driven” the way thunderstorms are “weather-driven.”

They hit targets… and break humans.

They can build strategy decks, but not psychological safety. They can run meetings, but not relationships. They can deliver outputs, but not dignity.

And then they’re shocked when staff “lack ownership.”

My friend. Ownership doesn’t grow in fear. It grows in trust.

3) Relationships

Some people are masters of romantic PR.

• Big gestures.

• Loud apologies.

• Public affection.

But the private pattern is disrespect, secrecy, and manipulation.

They don’t want intimacy. They want admirers.

And the relationship becomes a stage, not a covenant.

4) Spiritual life

This one is delicate, so let me be respectful and direct:

You can become busy for God while avoiding being with God.

The ego loves religious activity because it’s one of the few places you can look holy while refusing to change.

You can sing loudly and still be unkind. You can pray for an hour and still lie in five minutes. You can fast publicly and still feed your pride privately.

5) Political space

This is where the “Lord, Lord” syndrome graduates with honors.

• Prayer breakfasts.

• Bible verses at rallies.

• “My brother, my sister” at funerals.

• Holy water at inaugurations.

Then procurement becomes a buffet, and citizens become the plate.

A nation can be “spiritually active” in language… and morally bankrupt in policy.

The management lesson hiding inside the verse

Here it is, in plain language:

If you reward the appearance of performance, people will game it.

If you reward:

• visibility over integrity

• activity over character

• compliance over courage

• loyalty over truth

• “results” without ethics

…you will manufacture “Lord, Lord” employees: high-performing, low-trust, image-obsessed, accountability-allergic.

And yes, this is also a leadership warning: Don’t be the leader whose team looks successful but feels unsafe.

Why this is so common: the psychology of performative goodness

Here’s the part that helps us stop pretending this is “other people”:

Humans have a weird ability to do impressive things while staying unchanged.

Why?

1) Because applause is addictive

If the crowd claps, the brain releases reward chemicals.

So we start pursuing the feeling of being good, not the discipline of being good.

2) Because identity is easier than integrity

Integrity is hard. It requires consistency.

Identity is easier: “I’m a good person.” “I’m a leader.” “I’m a man of God.” “I’m for the people.”

The label becomes a shield against self-examination.

3) Because we can “buy” a clean conscience with small public good

We do one visible good thing, and it quiets the inner voice: “I’m fine.”

Then the private compromises grow.

Hypocrisy doesn’t usually arrive with a trumpet. It arrives with a whisper:

“It’s just this once.” “It’s not that deep.” “Everyone does it.” “Let’s be realistic.”

That’s how people slowly become strangers to the values they preach.

A practical “backstage audit” (for faith, work, love, leadership)

If you want to apply Matthew 7 beyond Sunday, try this. No drama. Just honesty.

Backstage Questions

1. Who am I when nothing is recorded?

2. What do I consistently excuse? (That’s what owns me.)

3. Where do I use titles to avoid responsibility?

4. Do people close to me experience me as safe?

5. If my image was removed, what would still remain?

If these questions irritate you, congratulations—your conscience is alive.

Micro-habits that heal “Lord, Lord” living

• Close the gap fast: when you mess up, apologize quickly and specifically.

• Choose one private discipline: do one thing daily that no one claps for (truth, kindness, prayer, reading, restraint).

• Build a correction culture: invite one person who can call you out without fear.

1. “The most dangerous people aren’t the wicked—they’re the impressive.”

2. “Some homes don’t collapse from poverty; they collapse from performative love.”

3. “A leader’s real KPI is not output—it’s the health of the people producing it.”

Closing punch

Matthew 7:21–23 is not trying to scare sincere people. It’s trying to expose the oldest human scam:

Using the right words to avoid the right life.

So here’s the question that will follow you into your house, your office, your relationship, your prayer life, and your ballot:

Is your life a performance… or a practice?

If this hit you, I want to hear from you in the comments:

Where do you see “Lord, Lord” behavior most—church, workplace, relationships, or politics? And what’s the antidote?

About the Author

Dr. Julius Kirimi Sindi is a global expert in research funding, policy impact, and donor relations. With extensive experience in analyzing philanthropy, business, and science funding, Dr. Sindi fosters sustainable and inclusive research ecosystems. He has facilitated international business relationships across Africa, Europe, and Asia. His upcoming book, "The Blueprint of Life Well Lived," explores successful strategies for navigating complex business environments while achieving sustainable growth. He is the author of an upcoming book "How Societies Change and Why Most Reforms Fail," which introduces an African Theory of Scaling rooted in emotional truth, political safety, and system coherence. I hope to publish "CHANGING THE BATTERIES - How to Renew Purpose, Growth, and Connection When Your Light Grows Dim" as soon as possible. He is also the creator of The Daily Pulse, a widely read LinkedIn newsletter offering sharp, human-centered analysis of policy, politics, and development.