Rotten Spot

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased"- Hebrews 13:16 (NIV).

Four apples were lined up on the table; one for each of us four siblings. I grabbed the biggest apple feeling like it made sense: I was the oldest, I was the biggest, and I was given first choice. Why not choose the biggest and best? That was 10-year old logic at its finest. Even as an adult, I still try to reason why I deserve so much more, and so much better, to feel justified in the choices I make. Lot was given the choice of which land he wanted when he separated from his Uncle Moses. "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere," basically choosing the better real estate (Genesis 13:10). Like my apple, which turned out to have a rotten spot, Lot had moved to Sodom and Gomorrah, literally on God's list for upcoming destruction. The moral is not, "what seems like the best choice is the worst;" Listen, the point is, we please God when we make decisions on the principles of goodness and sharing....they are sacrifices. The Apostle Paul said, "We are not trying to please people [which includes you and me] but God, who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Seek to please God and you will not end up with a rotten spot on your heart.