No pleasure
The Hebrew writer says in chapter 10, that God has no pleasure in the offerings of sacrifice from the people under the law(v.6-10). That poses a question to me. Is it the under the law aspect that he doesn’t like, or is it the act of the offering that seems to be trite? I think maybe both. If I was to force one of my children to come to me and tell me they loved me and give me their favorite toy, I would take no pleasure in that (unless I was some kind of tyrant megalomaniac of a father). However, the day my son walks into the living room, favorite action figure in hand, and crawls up into my lap and says, “Daddy, I don’t have a lot of things I can give you. My clothes don’t fit you. My bed is too short. I have no money to buy you anything, and I really don’t understand what you would want. So, I’ve decided to give you something that is my favorite. Here, take this. He is a very good toy, and he means a lot to me. Of all the toys in my chest that you and mom have given to me, this one is the very best I have, and I want to give it back to you. This is going to hurt me. I will use my other toys and be fine, but at times still miss this one. However, I’m sure you will do much better with it than I will. Please take this of me, it is all the best I have to give.”
Now, obviously no 6 year old will talk like that, but understand the heart behind it. That day, I am very proud of my son. I love my son. I feel my own worth in the eyes of my son. After all isn’t that what worship is all about? Declaring God’s Worth-ship? Now, as for the action figure, I take no real pride in the plastic. Rather, when a co-worker asks why there is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure preserved in a glass dome sitting on the middle shelf in my office, my heart will fill with warm pride as I explain who gave it to me and why.
May our worship, be true worship. May we not offer something to God that didn’t first cost us something, and hurt to give up.
