WHAT PLEASES THE LORD

Proverbs 21:3

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

We cannot getting tired of emphasizing what matters.

The truth is that religious practices are not all wrong in themselves but there are things that are important to God, this things we must take care of and make priority.

Let us take the issue of giving, which is what it is, the legalistic part was never preached to or given to believers, Christ did not instruct it neither did any of His disciples.

When Christ mentioned it He focused on what matters. 

Listen:

Matthew 23:23

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Can you see what Christ was interested in, Justice, Mercy and Faith. God is interested in the important things.

Let us look at the second instance where He mentioned it:

Luke 18:11-12

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!

I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

He used it to describe a hypocrite!

Now, did Christ say don't pay tithe or give a license to commit sin? NO. However, He made us know what matters.

Listen, Giving matters and the criteria for it is Love!

1 John 3:17

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

So does the Lord want us to live in sin? Never!

However remember that formication, adultery, murder are sins, so also is hate, envy, backbiting, hypocrisy etc.

So one will say: "I am helpless".

I will ask:

Why do you think the Lord sent us a helper - the Holy Spirit?

Because He knows we will need help.

Listen to this popular verse:

Romans 12:1-2

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The moment you know that it is not all about feelings and emotions, you are already in victory.

So we must understand what pleases God. We must be cautious not to use a worldly or religious measuring stick to determine what is priority. God's priority should be our priority.

Help us Good Lord.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher