Though ye offer me burnt offerings, and your meat offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Amos 5:22
Like most criminals at that level, a high ranking member of a mafia gang in Montreal died a violent death. As he and two bodyguards emerged from a restaurant late one evening, a machine gun in a nearby car opened fire, killing the three men instantly. Despite the man’s criminal background, news reports were fairly sympathetic, because he was the victim, not the perpetrator, of a murder. Elaborate funeral arrangements were made, as well as large donations in the man’s name to local charities and churches. To many people, the man appeared to be a fine public benefactor. But the local police were disgusted at the positive information that was churned up about the man, because they knew what a rotten character he really was. They knew all about the killings, the robberies, and drug peddling organizations, and other crimes the man had been involved in. Just like God knew all about the true character of those who were bringing their offerings to the temple.
Most of the good works and the large donations that are done these days are accompanied by plenty of praise and acknowledgment, as people make sure they get the recognition they ‘deserve’ for their good deeds. But most of the people who perform these good deeds are doing so to cover up for the indiscretions and problems in their own lives. And some people might be willing to overlook a messy affair if the person donated enough money to a worthy cause. But do these people really think that God doesn’t notice the rotten motives and the underhanded attitudes that are behind these actions? God was not fooled in Amos’s time, and He certainly is not being fooled today. But before we condemn the great public hypocrites, let us make sure that we are not guilty as well.
As you look around the circle of those who are worshipping on a Lord’s Day morning, did you ever wonder what each of these people were doing on the Saturday evening? Were all of these people preparing for their participation in worship, or were they immersed in some entertainment, sports, or other event or pursuit? For that matter, how much of each of our days is devoted to the things of God as compared to the time we spend on the world’s affairs? If the time and efforts and money and interest that we offer to God is an afterthought to what we spend on our selves, how can we expect God to be pleased with our little sacrifices for Him?
The Lord Jesus is our Lord and He deserves our most and best. If something or someone else is getting our most and our best, our Lord is not receiving what He deserves. -Jim MacIntosh