Woe To You Scribes And Pharisees - Part 8
Their eyes had slipped and they were fixed on the creation instead of the Creator.
Woe To You Scribes And Pharisees - Part 8
Matthew 23:16-22 tells the story of what happens when the PROCESS of pleasing God becomes more important than the actual end result. In other words, the religious leaders had built an entire system of rules and rituals that had become more important to them than God Himself.
How can that happen? How can those who are supposed to lead us to God forget about God in the process?
Jesus tried to help them see their error. They were no longer worshiping God. What they were worshiping was their “stuff” - the five R’s. Rules, Regulations, Rituals, Rites and Relics.
Their eyes had slipped and they were fixed on the creation instead of the Creator. The “R’s” had become their god. That may seem odd to us but I can tell you that I have seen it happen in every church I’ve been in.
You see, we are worshipers at heart. We were created for that purpose. If we were sinless and righteous we wouldn’t have any problems with that but, as you and I know, we are not sinless. Sin has warped our hearts and we find ourselves worshiping anything and everything.
Cars, homes, jobs, movie stars, money, musicians, athletes, TV shows, drugs, food, drinks ... get the picture? It’s exactly the same story with the church. Same story, just different stuff. So, the message of Jesus to His church is this: Do you want your stuff or do you want God? You can’t serve both.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
You were created to be a worshiper of God. Don’t fall into the trap of giving His worship to something else. God does not share His glory.
