Right Living Over Sacrifice

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. (Proverbs 21:3 NLT)

In today's society, relationship with God and living a godly lifestyle has been replaced with doing good deeds. A lot of Christians have lost focus on right living and instead, focus on volunteering in church and other organisations. Whilst these are essential, necessary and commendable, we often see individuals in such positions living lives that are less than stellar. In this verse, Solomon is reminding us of what is most important. Offering sacrifice in those days was essential, however, offering sacrifices and then not living right cancel each other out.

A Christian is called to live a life that is an example. We ought not to preach and live different from how we preach. It grieves God to see us going about busily doing many things FOR him, but not living WITH him. God is more please when we decide not to take the $100 that has been left in plain site and could easily be taken up without any one seeing us, tan when we volunteer to feed 100 homeless people. Feeding the homeless is a great sacrifice, but if you're feeding the homeless with a tainted heart, God is not even looking at you.

What God requires from us is  righteous living followed by sacrifices of ourselves and our time in response to need. So as we go about today, busily doing things FOR God, let us remember to couple that with obedience to his word. Remember it is not by works we are saved, but by grace through faith. Maintain your relationship with God though right living. Follow his commands and maintain a lifestyle that is holy.

Be Blessed.