I have been reading in Proverbs lately. One does not expect lessons in theology from Proverbs but two verses highlight what we have been saying in this blog.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21:2-3 ESV)
On what basis does God judge us? Verse 2 says God weighs our heart, and our heart is more than our belief system. Our heart is what we are at our core, what our soul is like.
Sacrifices in the Old Testament were the God ordained requirement from the beginning of time for the remembrance and atonement of sins committed yet this passage (and many others) state that to do right and justice are more important. Evidently our actions are more important than following some ritual. Why? Because God wants our entire soul changed and we change our soul when we take actions that at times will require a sacrifice of us, that will cost us financially, socially, politically.
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16 ESV).
