If there’s one statement i find really scary in the scripture, it would be the summary account of Amaziah’s life in 2 Chronicles 25:2 where he says that “… he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart”
This conclusion wouldn’t have amazed me if it was just from a man’s point of view but it says ‘in the eyes of the Lord’. In other words, when God looks at Amaziah’s effort, he can confirm that all the things he did were right but he had problems with them all the same because the from which it came was wrong.
Indeed, looking through the scripture God has always been interested in the heart with which a man is doing the work than the work the man is doing. For instance, in 1 Samuel 15:19-22, after Saul had carried out all that God commanded him against the Amalekites, the Prophet Samuel appeared out of nowhere in verse 19 and said “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”
In his confusion, Saul replied to the man of God in verses 20 and 21 “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”
But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams”. (Verse 22).
Can you see what I’m talking about? If I was Saul, I would have thought to myself ‘what’s wrong in bringing some items for the worship of the God who crowned me king though I’m the least among my brethren and my family (Benjamin) is the least among my people?’. What’s so bad in deciding to worship the God who has given me victory over the Amalekites as he has promised through his Holy prophet?
And that’s the real problem! To do the right thing is important to God but more important is to do it from the right heart, the sacrifice of these animals won’t produce a sweet-smelling savour unto our God, for they are roasted with rebellion, neither will any of your acts of service be acceptable until you yourself have acknowledged him as Lord in your heart until the motive is right!
Check Your Heart!
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