Quality Control

Psalm 20:3 (KJV) Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

There are two important understandings here.

The first is to remember our offerings.  And here I don’t think that we’re talking specifically about the temple sacrifices, although that was the focus for the Jews in their day, but even there it goes beyond just the literal legalistic offerings.  Here is to remember.  It is so easy to forget that we serve a living God and we are to serve in a living way.

The second thing that I think is important is to remember that we need God to accept our offerings.  This is a point that is the same for the Jew of ancient Israel or for the Christian today.  God does not look at the ritual.  He’s not impressed that you tithe.  He doesn’t care if you have those old-fashioned medals for attending Sunday school perfectly for 40 years.  He doesn’t care that you have never robbed a bank.  Well yes, of course He cares, but those are not the things that He’s looking at primarily.  He is focusing on your heart and where your heart is.  He wants to know your reason for obedience in going through the rituals.

So?  Be obedient.  That is necessary.  I don’t think it’s just enough to have the right actions.  If you don’t have the right attitude, the right heart, the actions are hollow echoes.  

Routine Attitudes

(Psa 20:3 KJV)  Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

(Proverbs 6 also read)

When you compare this in the King James Version with a New American Standard version you get the impression that all sacrifices are not necessarily acceptable.  In other words, the ritual is not the point.  It is just a heart condition.  You see this repeated regularly in the Bible.  Yes, there are rituals.  In the OT at least, they are to be followed.  Then there is that big “but”, it must be done with the right attitude.  

You could take the sacrifices of Cain and Abel as examples.  One was accepted, the other was rejected.  You have the comparison of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18:10.  Think of Simeon wanting the buy the Holy Spirit.  None of those endorse empty rituals.

The law is not a magic chant.  It is not a mystical elixir.  It is not a vending machine.  It is a way in which a living God reaches out to living humans and expects them to embrace it with love and devotion.

So?  Don’t use this as an excuse to sleep in on Sunday morning or not be a steward of your resources.  That is another extreme that can be just as dangerous.  Do the right things with the right attitude.  It is a great combination.