The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright
pleases God. The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who
pursue righteousness. ~Proverbs 15:8-9
“When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the Lord almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” ~Malachi 1:13B-14
I remember one time, back in Maine, I was helping an elderly gentleman from our church with shoveling snow. As we were working, his shovel broke. This prompted him to say, jokingly: “Well, I guess it’s time to give that one to the church!” We both had a little laugh about the comment, but we both also knew that he had spoken much truth.
In today’s Proverb, Solomon is again dealing with the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, and warning the wicked, again, about the heart. “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he welcomes the prayers of the upright.” Let us examine ourselves to be sure that we are not like the Pharisees in this, church goers who give, hoping for a pat on the back for their generosity. They are hoping to manipulate God or, get on his good side, with what the world might see as an impressive gift, or sacrifice.
I’m reminded of another man, from Maine, whose wife had serious cancer. It was at a time when our church was trying to raise funds to purchase NIV pew Bibles, and also a sign, similar to what we have here in Lake City, for the front of our church. This man was from the community. Somehow, he found our wish list, and contacted me, offering to cover all the expense.
They were an interesting few months that we worked together, him trying to do whatever he could to see his wife healed, and me, trying to help him understand the unconditional love of God. He did eventually pay for the sign, but he just couldn’t grasp the part about God’s love. It seems he hoped his great sacrifice would convince God to heal her. The silver lining in this situation is that I also got to know his wife, who did grasp the message, professed Christ and died in His peace. I did try to continue ministering to the man, but it was a challenge and I just hope and pray that seeds were planted during that time that have borne fruit since I have left.
Please understand, I do not categorize this man as wicked. He loved his wife and was willing to try anything to get God to heal her. However, there are those whose motives are not so pure. They want God to do their bidding, tap into His power, get Him behind their scheme, so they give out of selfish motives, as part of their plan. God detests what they are doing. But hears the prayer of the upright instead. “The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.”
Then there are those who give to God the leftovers. It may look like a sacrifice to man, but it’s mostly a way of cleaning out the garage, or attic and that’s all. That’s kind of what was going on in Malachi’s day. They were bringing the animals that wouldn’t fetch a good price anyway. The owners wouldn’t want to breed them, out of concern that they might pass on their defect to the offspring. So, since they were going to have to get rid of them anyway, why not hand them over to the priests?
That way, they could get the credit for bringing their sacrifice. And the healthy flock wouldn’t be decreased at all. They were going through the act of giving, but the heart wasn’t in the right place. It was just to go through the motions. Now I’m not saying that it’s totally wrong to donate used items, such as for the men’s yard sale. I’m talking about the heart attitude that thinks God doesn’t care, or imagines he won’t notice. That kind of donation is not the same as the your tithes and offerings, your first fruits, the best you have to give.
Have you heard the one about the three bills of currency, a $100, a $20 and a $1 that were having a conversation? The $100 bragged about all of the great places he had been, vacations, sports events etc. The $20, talked mostly about trips to the grocery store and more practical places such as that. But, the $1, asked the others to stop talking as he lamented, “Church. Church. Church. That’s all I ever see is church.” Possibly, he had been in the possession of many who went through the motions, but had other priorities.
True, there is the widow’s mite to consider, but I’m not sure there are too many of those in today’s modern American congregations. Here’s what God has to say about the matter. “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. I do not rebuke you for your offerings or your burnt sacrifices, which are ever before Me. I have no need of a bull from your pens, for every animal of the forests is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the most high, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:7-15)
Do you hear the heart issue that God is concerned with in this passage? He intended the system of sacrificial worship to give his people a way to love Him back for all his mercy towards them. Have you ever thought of your giving thanks, praising God even in difficult circumstances as actually a sacrifice to God? In the sacrificial system, God wanted His children to give of their first fruits as a way of saying, “I trust You.” We’ve explored the why, of this before.
Even before you think about how much you can give or how generous you can be, get your heart in the right place, grateful and joyful for all that you have in Christ. Then you are in the happy place where you can make your donations to the church, not as a transaction, with strings attached, but as a way of giving thanks to God, with a joyful heart. For us, being able to give thanks, even when it is hard to find what there is to be thankful about, is our way of saying: “I trust You, God.”
You’re not giving Him your leftovers or your castoff thoughts when you take the time to truly give thanks and honor Him with your trust, through the hard times. That is what the righteous do, not to manipulate, but to reaffirm where our trust lies, not in what He may give, but in who He is. “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23)
“He loves those who pursue righteousness.” He loves being pursued by us. He loves it when we want to please Him. He loves hearing our offering of thanks for all He has already done for us. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases God.”
Prayer: Oh, Father, examine me and search my heart. Then tell me whether I am giving thanks, and giving anything, for the right reasons. I love You Lord. Thank You for putting Your generous Spirit in me. That inspires me to be generous too. And it’s really fun! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise
“When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the Lord almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations.” ~Malachi 1:13B-14
I remember one time, back in Maine, I was helping an elderly gentleman from our church with shoveling snow. As we were working, his shovel broke. This prompted him to say, jokingly: “Well, I guess it’s time to give that one to the church!” We both had a little laugh about the comment, but we both also knew that he had spoken much truth.
In today’s Proverb, Solomon is again dealing with the contrast between the wicked and the righteous, and warning the wicked, again, about the heart. “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he welcomes the prayers of the upright.” Let us examine ourselves to be sure that we are not like the Pharisees in this, church goers who give, hoping for a pat on the back for their generosity. They are hoping to manipulate God or, get on his good side, with what the world might see as an impressive gift, or sacrifice.
I’m reminded of another man, from Maine, whose wife had serious cancer. It was at a time when our church was trying to raise funds to purchase NIV pew Bibles, and also a sign, similar to what we have here in Lake City, for the front of our church. This man was from the community. Somehow, he found our wish list, and contacted me, offering to cover all the expense.
They were an interesting few months that we worked together, him trying to do whatever he could to see his wife healed, and me, trying to help him understand the unconditional love of God. He did eventually pay for the sign, but he just couldn’t grasp the part about God’s love. It seems he hoped his great sacrifice would convince God to heal her. The silver lining in this situation is that I also got to know his wife, who did grasp the message, professed Christ and died in His peace. I did try to continue ministering to the man, but it was a challenge and I just hope and pray that seeds were planted during that time that have borne fruit since I have left.
Please understand, I do not categorize this man as wicked. He loved his wife and was willing to try anything to get God to heal her. However, there are those whose motives are not so pure. They want God to do their bidding, tap into His power, get Him behind their scheme, so they give out of selfish motives, as part of their plan. God detests what they are doing. But hears the prayer of the upright instead. “The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.”
Then there are those who give to God the leftovers. It may look like a sacrifice to man, but it’s mostly a way of cleaning out the garage, or attic and that’s all. That’s kind of what was going on in Malachi’s day. They were bringing the animals that wouldn’t fetch a good price anyway. The owners wouldn’t want to breed them, out of concern that they might pass on their defect to the offspring. So, since they were going to have to get rid of them anyway, why not hand them over to the priests?
That way, they could get the credit for bringing their sacrifice. And the healthy flock wouldn’t be decreased at all. They were going through the act of giving, but the heart wasn’t in the right place. It was just to go through the motions. Now I’m not saying that it’s totally wrong to donate used items, such as for the men’s yard sale. I’m talking about the heart attitude that thinks God doesn’t care, or imagines he won’t notice. That kind of donation is not the same as the your tithes and offerings, your first fruits, the best you have to give.
Have you heard the one about the three bills of currency, a $100, a $20 and a $1 that were having a conversation? The $100 bragged about all of the great places he had been, vacations, sports events etc. The $20, talked mostly about trips to the grocery store and more practical places such as that. But, the $1, asked the others to stop talking as he lamented, “Church. Church. Church. That’s all I ever see is church.” Possibly, he had been in the possession of many who went through the motions, but had other priorities.
True, there is the widow’s mite to consider, but I’m not sure there are too many of those in today’s modern American congregations. Here’s what God has to say about the matter. “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. I do not rebuke you for your offerings or your burnt sacrifices, which are ever before Me. I have no need of a bull from your pens, for every animal of the forests is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the most high, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:7-15)
Do you hear the heart issue that God is concerned with in this passage? He intended the system of sacrificial worship to give his people a way to love Him back for all his mercy towards them. Have you ever thought of your giving thanks, praising God even in difficult circumstances as actually a sacrifice to God? In the sacrificial system, God wanted His children to give of their first fruits as a way of saying, “I trust You.” We’ve explored the why, of this before.
Even before you think about how much you can give or how generous you can be, get your heart in the right place, grateful and joyful for all that you have in Christ. Then you are in the happy place where you can make your donations to the church, not as a transaction, with strings attached, but as a way of giving thanks to God, with a joyful heart. For us, being able to give thanks, even when it is hard to find what there is to be thankful about, is our way of saying: “I trust You, God.”
You’re not giving Him your leftovers or your castoff thoughts when you take the time to truly give thanks and honor Him with your trust, through the hard times. That is what the righteous do, not to manipulate, but to reaffirm where our trust lies, not in what He may give, but in who He is. “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23)
“He loves those who pursue righteousness.” He loves being pursued by us. He loves it when we want to please Him. He loves hearing our offering of thanks for all He has already done for us. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases God.”
Prayer: Oh, Father, examine me and search my heart. Then tell me whether I am giving thanks, and giving anything, for the right reasons. I love You Lord. Thank You for putting Your generous Spirit in me. That inspires me to be generous too. And it’s really fun! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise
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