In Zechariah, chapter 7, there is an episode where men come from Bethel to Jerusalem to inquire of the Priests and the Prophets in an effort to discern God’s will on a matter. The question is found in verse 3 where those that came asked, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?” Here, they were asking if they should continue fasting over the fall of Jerusalem since the Jews had now returned from the Babylonian exile and the Temple was in the process of being rebuilt. While it may have seemed like a reasonable question to the priest, the pointed response they received from God through Zechariah in verses 5-6 must have stunned them.
There we read, “Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, “When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves.” Instead of getting an answer from God, they received a question which revolved around their reasons for observing the fast, for what motivated them to do it. Did they do this for Him, or for themselves? And that is a question I think we may all need to ask ourselves sometimes. When it comes to the things of God, what is our motivation for doing what we do and who are we doing it for? Are we doing them out of love for God, for ourselves, or for some other reason?
A good place to start is what we do at the house of God. For us who go to church regularly and are believers, what is our motivation for being there? We would all hope that the reasons we come is because we love God, want to worship Him and thank Him for everything we owe Him, things we could never repay. But in truth, there are a lot of reasons that people might show up. Some may come because they feel an obligation to be there. Obviously if you are a teacher or preacher, or a musician or singer involved with the music, you are expected to be in attendance, as you have a responsibility to fulfill. Others may come because it’s a habit (that’s just what you do on Sundays and Wednesdays) or you may come because you have friends there. Some may attend worship thinking that a little religion might do them some good. It certainly can’t do any harm and besides, it might help with their respect in the community. Some may even think that if I go regularly, then God will bless me financially. Well whatever the reason, if the honest answer to God’s question, “Did you do it for me?” is not “Yes”, then God does not acknowledge it. In fact, if you read much into the Bible you will find that He actually despises it.
For example, Amos was called by God to go to the northern kingdom of Israel and pronounce judgment against them for their rebellion against Him, a judgment that would result in the destruction of the nation and the deportation of its people. In one of the messages God, speaking through the prophet concerning their religious gatherings, said, “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols” (Amos 5:21-23). Though they were meeting in worship to God, because of their disobedience to Him, He actually abhorred what they were doing.
Another example we find in the New Testament is where Jesus told His disciples, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, ‘They have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5). Now you might think these examples as being a bit extreme, but they both drive home a point. Anything and everything we do, as God’s children, must be done for God and His glory alone for Him to accept it. Now I certainly hope this is why we, as believers, are doing the things we do for God, both inside and outside the church. If we expect Him to look on us with favor, this is how it has to be. So let’s all take a little time this week to answer God’s question for ourselves, “Did ye at all do these things unto Me, even unto Me?, and if the answer to that question is not, “Yes, Lord,” let us seek His forgiveness and help in refocusing our lives today, because someday when we stand before Him we might just hear this question again.
For God’s glory and His alone,
Pastor Terry.