With the right Heart Attitude

Psalm 40:6-11

“In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.  Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.  I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.  As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!”

Often as one studies the Scriptures, it requires focus and a desire to obey what the Lord is instructing His people or children to do.  When the Psalmist states in sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, one must ask why?  For it is apparent that God established livestock, the best male without blemish for a blood offering in Leviticus chapter one.  And in Hebrews 9:22, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”  Once a person understands they do not meet God’s requirement, and they needed a male without sin or blemish to take their place, and so God sent His only Son, to die for the sins of all people.

We have not yet answered the why question, let’s attempt to the best of my understanding to do that.  Religious people often meet a requirement, God calls for a sacrifice of a male lamb without blemish, but it must be with the right heart attitude.  God’ looks at the heart and not at the action, this not only has to do with sacrifices but also with those who go by the name Christian giving a tithe to the Lord.  If you attended a local church, and are taught the truth, you must support that ministry, but it must be with a right heart attitude.  You will find the answer to “why” in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Let’s be real clear, all other ministry outside of the church is not a tithe; it’s an offering of how the Lord has blessed you, if you’re a doctor or Lawyer and give free service to someone in need, you have given a gift, but it is not a tithe, and God is clear the local church is where the tithe must go, but not out of reluctance or compulsion.  If you are in a local church and the word of God is not preached; why are you still there?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice