HOW TO PLEASE GOD THE MOST?

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 (NIV)

Sacrifice is defined as the act of surrendering a possession as an offering to God or to a divine or supernatural figure. It is offered as a form of worship or propitiation. Offering sacrifices generally makes one feel good and free of any guilty conscience. It also tends to benefit those who can afford the items needed for the sacrifice. Those who can afford to pay for the sacrifice may go back to their old ways and live in sin because they may think that they would be able to appease with their sacrifices. Sacrifice is also the act of giving up something that you want to keep, especially, in order to get or do something else or to help someone. It is the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. It is to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. Again, the intent here is to make one feel good about himself or herself.

When people give tithes, they feel they have given up something to God and they intend want something back from Him. When some people give to the poor, they want others to know about it. They want people to know how much they have sacrificed. Saul made a sacrifice to God after winning the war with the Amalekites. It was good to offer sacrifice but his intents were not right. He was told to destroy the entire city and not to take anything from the spoil. He wanted to show off his warrior feats so he captured the king of the Amalekites alive and made a public show of him. God was therefore not pleased with his sacrifice.

Saul thought his own ways were right. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts." Proverbs 21:2(NIV)

As you offer a sacrifice to God, you have to ascertain the motive behind it. When you make a vow or pledge to give money in front of a congregation, what is your motive. Is it to show off? God is interested in the motive and principle behind everything that we do. Are you motives in right standing with God? When your motive and principles are in accordance with God's word, then your sacrifice becomes acceptable to the Lord.

 "Why have we fasted, they say, and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’ Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers."  

Isaiah 58:3 (NIV)

The Israelites fasted, which was a form of self sacrifice, and they expected God to listen to their prayers and cries. Yet God was not pleased with that because they did their own thing by exploiting their workers. God is interested in us living a holy and righteous lives than bringing our sacrifices to him.  God weighs the heart and intents of man.

Human beings evaluate the outward appearance and actions of others and we judge them according to that. Samuel was faced with a similar situation when he was choosing a king for the Israelite:

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."         1 Samuel 16:7

Today, as you read this message, may you not be a man-pleaser but be a God-pleaser. God is calling us to holiness without which no man would see God. A call to do right and just is what is more delightful to God. How is your relationship and dealings with others? Are they right and just? How are your deep thoughts, are they right and just? Let us desire to living righteously in this present world so that we will be ready when our maker comes to take us up into heaven.