RIGHT MOTIVES

Isaiah 1:10-13
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

A Message for Rebellious Judah

10 Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
11 “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.


God has a response for right actions with the wrong motivation … rejection. Right behavior performed for the wrong reason is detestable to the LORD.

Ask a child, “Why wouldn’t you steal?” They answer, “Because I would get punished if I got caught.” Most parents would be dissatisfied with the answer because the answer indicates that the child values ‘not being punished’ over ‘being honest’.

God tells us that if our religious practices are motivated by gaining a more pleasant or profitable life, that falls short. That is not worship and He wants none of it. God desires that we be motivated by love for Him and love for each other when we come to worship.