God Demands Our Best
Aug 15, 2006
Part of God’s Old Law, found in the Old Testament, required that animal sacrifices be made to God. One very important part of this requirement was that the animals be unblemished (Leviticus 22:17-25). God did not want broken, maimed, or scabby animals to be used as sacrifices to Him. Deuteronomy 17:1 revealed how God felt about receiving these types of animals when it said, “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.” God was not interested in leftovers or animals whose owners would not have wanted them anyways.
When God asked for a sacrifice, He expected a true sacrifice. He expected something that would actually make a difference to the individual making the sacrifice. King David understood this when he refused to accept as a gift items for sacrifice to God. His response to the offer was, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing” (2nd Samuel 24:24). Not everyone chose to follow this principle as David did. There were people who even gave more to their governor than they did to God (Malachi 1:7+8) and God was clearly not pleased (Malachi 1:14).
Because we are no longer under the Old Law, we are not required to make animal sacrifices to God (Hebrews 10:8-10), as the Israelites once had to do. However, making sacrifices for God is still necessary. We are now expected to be living sacrifices for God (Romans 12:1). In other words, we need to devote our lives to serving God. While it was the Israelites duty to sacrifice animals for God, it is our duty to sacrifice time and effort for God. This is what He demands from us. As recorded in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus used the parable of the talents to illustrate how important it is to use our abilities for serving God. The five talent man used his five talents and was rewarded. Similarly, the two talent man used his two talents and was rewarded. Unfortunately, the one talent man did nothing and was punished. We can likewise expect punishment if we refuse to sacrifice time and effort for God in our lives.
In the Old Testament, God demanded the best from the people, not their leftovers. Though the object of sacrifice has changed, the principle has not. God still demands our best, not our leftovers. Working for a living is a priority (2nd Thessalonians 3:10), but God must be a higher priority (Luke 12:29-31). Family is also a priority (Ephesians 6:1-4, 1st Timothy 5:8), but, once again, God must be a higher priority (Matthew 10:37). Have you been giving God your best? Have you been giving God the time and effort He deserves or have you just been giving him whatever little bit is left after all the recreational things you want to do? God did not accept less than the best from the Israelites. Please don’t make the mistake of expecting Him to accept less than your best.
When God asked for a sacrifice, He expected a true sacrifice. He expected something that would actually make a difference to the individual making the sacrifice. King David understood this when he refused to accept as a gift items for sacrifice to God. His response to the offer was, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing” (2nd Samuel 24:24). Not everyone chose to follow this principle as David did. There were people who even gave more to their governor than they did to God (Malachi 1:7+8) and God was clearly not pleased (Malachi 1:14).
Because we are no longer under the Old Law, we are not required to make animal sacrifices to God (Hebrews 10:8-10), as the Israelites once had to do. However, making sacrifices for God is still necessary. We are now expected to be living sacrifices for God (Romans 12:1). In other words, we need to devote our lives to serving God. While it was the Israelites duty to sacrifice animals for God, it is our duty to sacrifice time and effort for God. This is what He demands from us. As recorded in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus used the parable of the talents to illustrate how important it is to use our abilities for serving God. The five talent man used his five talents and was rewarded. Similarly, the two talent man used his two talents and was rewarded. Unfortunately, the one talent man did nothing and was punished. We can likewise expect punishment if we refuse to sacrifice time and effort for God in our lives.
In the Old Testament, God demanded the best from the people, not their leftovers. Though the object of sacrifice has changed, the principle has not. God still demands our best, not our leftovers. Working for a living is a priority (2nd Thessalonians 3:10), but God must be a higher priority (Luke 12:29-31). Family is also a priority (Ephesians 6:1-4, 1st Timothy 5:8), but, once again, God must be a higher priority (Matthew 10:37). Have you been giving God your best? Have you been giving God the time and effort He deserves or have you just been giving him whatever little bit is left after all the recreational things you want to do? God did not accept less than the best from the Israelites. Please don’t make the mistake of expecting Him to accept less than your best.