WHAT GOD DELIGHTED IN
“BUT GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS: ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 9:13 (NKJV)
“I WANT YOU TO SHOW LOVE, NOT OFFER SACRIFICES. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6 (NLT)
God delights much more in the expression of love to others, and having the knowledge of Him, than any sacrifice that may be offered to Him.
In other words, knowing God intimately and love for your fellow human beings are delightful to God than what you may offer to Him as a sacrificial offering (Matthew 22:36-40).
Note:
• Doing good and sharing of what you have are much more important to God than whatever oblation offered to Him:
“BUT DO NOT FORGET TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE, FOR WITH SUCH SACRIFICES GOD IS WELL PLEASED” (Hebrews 13:16 NKJV).
• The knowledge of God you had is of paramount importance to Him. The reason being that the level of your knowledge in God is shown in how you relate with others. If you know God, that is, you understand Him and walk with Him intimately; you will treat your fellow human beings well.
Thus, two key things told us in our text, Hosea 6:6, are; believers should show love and know God intimately.
Care for what God cares for! If you do not want your relationship and fellowshipping with God to be affected negatively, then treat other people well—even the people who are working for you, that is, those under your leadership; they deserved to be treated well:
8 REMEMBER THIS, WHATEVER GOOD THING YOU DO, THE LORD WILL PAY YOU FOR IT. IT IS THE SAME TO THE LORD IF YOU ARE A SERVANT OWNED BY SOMEONE OR IF YOU WORK FOR PAY. 9 OWNERS, DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THOSE WHO WORK FOR YOU. STOP SAYING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE HARD ON THEM. REMEMBER THAT YOUR OWNER AND THEIR OWNER IS IN HEAVEN. GOD DOES NOT RESPECT ONE PERSON MORE THAN ANOTHER" (Ephesians 6:8,9 New Life Version).
1 COME NOW, YOU RICH, WEEP AND HOWL FOR YOUR MISERIES THAT ARE COMING UPON YOU!
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten.
3 YOUR GOLD AND SILVER ARE CORRODED, AND THEIR CORROSION WILL BE A WITNESS AGAINST YOU AND WILL EAT YOUR FLESH LIKE FIRE . You have heaped up treasure on the last days.
4 INDEED THE WAGES OF LABORERS WHO MOWED YOUR FIELDS, WHICH YOU KEPT BACK BY FRAUD, CRY OUT; AND THE CRIES OF THE REAPERS HAVE REACHED THE EARS Off THE LORD OF SABAOTH (HOSTS).”
James 5:1-4(NKJV)
You as a believer should not be part of the people who treat those who work for them badly, their staff: “MASTERS, GIVE YOUR BONDSERVANTS WHAT IS JUST AND FAIR, KNOWING THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A MASTER IN HEAVEN" (Colossians 4:1 NKJV).
The way you treat others can affect your fellowship with God; either positively or negatively as said earlier. Thus, If you are an employer, treat the people who are working for you well and do not deprive them of their wages, rights, and benefits (Leviticus 19:13).
If you mistreated or ill-treated the people and they cry to God, He promises to hear and avenge them on you. It can bring a curse on you and your establishment or work:
14 "YOU SHALL NOT OPPRESS A HIRED SERVANT WHO IS POOR AND NEEDY, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15 "EACH DAY YOU SHALL GIVE HIM HIS WAGES, AND NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON IT; LEST HE CRY OUT AGAINST YOU TO THE LORD, AND IT BE SIN TO YOU" (Deuteronomy 24:14,15 NKJV).
When your knowledge of God is full and your relationship with Him is firm, you would be able to treat other people well. I have seen some believers who are callous and they treat other people unfairly, usually the source of such people's wealth or blessing is most probably not of God. If your source of blessing or wealth is of God, you surely would not be hardhearted towards others in being helpful:
8 HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, FOR GOD IS LOVE. 20 IF SOMEONE SAYS, I LOVE GOD,” AND HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR; FOR HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER WHOM HE HAS SEEN, HOW CAN HE LOVE GOD WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN? 21 AND THIS COMMANDMENT WE HAVE FROM HIM: THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD MUST LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO” (1 John 4:8,20,21 NKJV).
Remember, love is primarily expressed through giving and forgiveness.
Love gives. Someone can give without love, but no one loves without giving.
Thus, If you love others as God does, Christ does, you also will give without hesitation (John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-11).
Giving being talked about is not only of material things, whatever you have that could be advantageous or beneficial to others should be given willingly without looking back.
Giving could be serving others with your God-given gifts or whatever endowment you had!
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!