By Tope Banso
“Do not bring to the house of the LORD your God any offering from the earnings of a prostitute, whether a man or a woman, for both are detestable to the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 23:18 New Living Translation).
While it is true that God wants us to thank Him, He doesn’t accept every thanksgiving offering or every offering. I’m not referring to the size of the offering. Some people think that they can give any thanksgiving offering to God and He’ll accept it because He loves thanksgiving. But God can do without the thanksgiving of many people because He won’t compromise His Word.
If God doesn’t respect someone, He won’t respect his offering. Genesis 4:4-5 says the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. Furthermore, if God doesn’t approve someone’s method, He won’t accept His thanksgiving offering. Since the method is wrong, the result is detestable to God.
If someone is thanking God for the ‘successes’ he is getting through his lifestyle of sin, he is missing the point. God didn’t do what he is thanking Him for. What God desires first from that person is repentance. Proverbs 15:8 says, “The LORD hates the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright” (New Living Translation).
God has nothing to do with some things that people go to Church to thank Him for. They know how they got the results they’re thanking God for. God didn’t do it! Why give the glory to God?
God is interested not just in the result; He is interested in the process. You can’t get a result through a sinful process, and then come to give the glory to God. If a student cheated in an examination and passed, what thanksgiving is he doing? Is he thanking God for helping him to cheat?
If a politician or his party rigged to win an election, what is he going to church to do thanksgiving for? He doesn’t even need to thank Him at home! Who are people deceiving? Certainly not God.
If an armed robber, a kidnapper, or a fraudulent person brings a thanksgiving offering to God from the proceeds of his crime, will God accept that kind of offering? Deuteronomy 23:18 says, “Do not bring to the house of the LORD your God any offering from the earnings of a prostitute, whether a man or a woman, for both are detestable to the LORD your God” (New Living Translation). God doesn’t overlook anyone’s sin because of his thanksgiving offering.
Sin will make you unacceptable to God. And if you’re unacceptable to God, your thanksgiving can’t be acceptable to Him. Repent of your sins first. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 New King James Version).
God is first interested in you before He is interested in whatever offering you want to give Him (Matthew 5:23-24).
PRAYER POINT: Father, I repent of any sin that can make my offerings unacceptable to You.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso, an Abuja-based minister can be reached at Cedar Ministry International, cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
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