Have you ever seen folks that never do anything for the Lord? Some of those folks are probably doing a lot of stuff that you do not know about.
Have you ever met folks that think giving money is enough? They let others do the rest.
Does God have your heart, or just your money?
God does not need your money. He controls it all anyway. But He does ask you to give part of it back. The focus is not on the money, but on your heart. It’s a spiritual condition.
If you want to follow along in scripture, we’re looking mostly at 1 Samuel 15 this week.
Anyone can do what they want all week, and then give God a check on Sunday. That is not what God is after. Monday, we talked about obedience and thinking we know better than God. Today, I want to talk about the attitude that we can “buy off” God.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:21
Saul thought that giving God his “ill gotten gain” – ill gotten in the sense that God had told him to destroy it and he didn’t – would make up for the sin of not obeying. Inside of the sin of not obeying, you will find: pride – I know better than God; and lack of faith – I don’t really believe God.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15:23
God’s not looking for money. What does He desire?
YOU! God is looking for your love, worship, devotion, and obedience. He is looking for a relationship with you!
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:4
Again, God is not looking for our money. We are supposed to give. But another point to be made about what Saul and the people gave. It was not even given of their own belongings. Is it really a sacrifice to give something that cost you nothing?
Here’s a thought about God’s economics.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38
Make no mistake. You will reap what you sow – probably in your lifetime and definitely in eternity.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22
Today’s challenge is to look at what you are giving God and why. No amount of money and sacrifice can replace what God really wants from you – YOU! There is no substitute for your love, worship, devotion, and obedience. God wants a relationship with you!