These verses, and others, address the failure of the people who say they love God to give God His due and their best. It was an acceptable level of devotion to God. Even though they knew what God requires, they offered something much less and expected God to accept it. It is easy for us to read verses like that and sit in righteous indignation. So what does this have to do with us?
(Romans 12:1-2) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
God wants us to offer our best to Him. He wants all of our heart’s devotion – not just part of it. He wants our total devotion, not merely a nod on Sunday morning – so long as the sermon doesn’t go past noon or worse, infringes on football or deer hunting .. or …. You can fill it in.
Do you know why He asks us to tithe? It is not because He needs our money! (1 Timothy 6:10) “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
For many – money is their god and their source for comfort – security – hope for the future. It is was they scheme to have more of – even compromise their ethics and character for. He challenges us to let it go – God does not need your money – He wants your heart.
Imagine your boss comes to your home for dinner. When he arrives you tell him how great it is to see him. You have him sit down at the table. The table is set with your best dishes. You return from the kitchen with a couple of pizza boxes with some cold pizza slices left over from last night’s televised football game. Laying on the table you tell your boss – “Bon Appetit!”
You would not offer your boss leftovers. Well, most people wouldn’t. In the same way, God does not want your left-overs. After you are done spending or doing, you look to see if you have a couple of bucks in your pocket otherwise don’t make eye-contact with the guy passing the plate – or if you have some time where you are not busy doing something else you might make it to church or some church function. You really don’t have time in your life to read the Bible or pray. You give God what you have left, l if there is anything left.
You see we are not unlike the people in the Old Testament. We struggle with a divided heart – with mixed devotion. Hoping the God will understand that we are strapped or very busy. He understands more than you might imagine.
Something Jesus said (Matthew 15:7-9) “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” God examines the heart - not your words - your words and actions come from your heart.
Complete trust in God and not ourselves and the world. That is the goal we are to seek. (Mark 12:41-44) “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Take a few minutes this morning to examine your priorities – the sincerity of your love for God. We all can do better. We all have a ways to go before we arrive where God wants us. CHARLEY
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