Leftovers Will Never Suffice
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorized
When my two brothers and I were growing up, our family struggled to get by on my father’s income (even though he worked long and arduous hours for that income). My mother would cook a big roast for Sunday lunch. From that good meal, we would have hot roast beef sandwiches on Sunday night, hash roast and potatoes Monday night, roast stew Tuesday night, tacos made from roast meat on Wednesday night and barbecue roast sandwiches on Thursday night. What a welcome relief to have spam sandwiches on Friday and roast and left-over vegetables on Saturday — beloved, no one had to explain to us what “leftovers” meant.
God’s Requirement For Offering Sacrifices
God has always required the “best” from His people — never the “leftovers.” Under the Mosaical law, God required the “best” of the herds and flocks for sacrifices, because it indicated proper awe and respect for Him from His people. However, because of spiritual indifference, the significance of offering only the “best” sacrifices was lost during the days of the prophet Malachi (Malachi 1:6-14). Rather, Israel offered the animals they did not want — animals that were lame or diseased, that were not good for anything but to be killed (Malachi 1:8; Malachi 1:12-14; cf. Leviticus 22:17-25). Their attitude in offering the poorest and sickest of their livestock, was a clear indication of their estimation of God.
Their attitude was, “Hey, leftovers are good enough for God!” God responded to this kind of attitude by saying, you have “despised My name” (Malachi 1:6), offered “polluted bread” (Malachi 1:7), and “profaned” offerings to Him (Malachi 1:12). They did not truly appreciate the greatness of God — Note God’s proclamation: “I am a great King” (Malachi 1:14 ASV). Even the Gentile nations recognized and respected His greatness.
Our Sacrifices And Worship To God
As Christians, we too have sacrifices to offer God. And like Israel of old, God expects the “best” we have to offer. For example, our bodies are to be “living sacrifices” that are holy and unblemished by sin (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:12-13; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:13-16; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; Hebrews 12:9-10; Hebrews 12:14).
However, in those sacrifices, do we ever offer God our “leftovers?” Do we worship Him only when it is convenient — after we have taken care of our worldly appointments? (cf. Luke 14:15-20). If we have, do we actually think that God is satisfied with our “leftovers?”
Our worship to God necessitates that we give up all personal, self-interests, and make a willing choice to seek and praise Him “first” (Matthew 16:24-25; Matthew 6:33). When we make choices of sleep, recreation, and prosperity over worshiping Him, we are really saying that He is worthy only of our “leftovers.” Does it cost us financially to put Him first? It should (cf. Mark 12:41-44).
As Christians, we should be willing to sacrifice our own goods in order to share with others (Acts 2:45; Acts 4:32-35). With such sacrifices God is well-pleased (Hebrews 13:16; cf. Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 6:18).
David’s Attitude In Offering Sacrifices
When David was instructed by Gad to “erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite” — he followed those instructions implicitly (2 Samuel 24:18-19). When he came to the threshing floor, Araunah offered him not only the place to erect the altar, but the animals to offer upon that altar as well — free of charge! (2 Samuel 24:18-23). David responded and said — “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24 NIV). As far as David was concerned, it would not have been a pleasing sacrifice to God, if the place of offering had cost him “nothing.”
Conclusion:
As Christians, let’s always be “willing” (cf. Leviticus 22:29 KJV; 2 Corinthians 8:3 KJV) to offer the “best” sacrifices we have to God, whether it be money, time, or talent — leftovers will never suffice.