What Have You Done For Me Lately?

What have you done for God lately?

"Well, I went to church Sunday. I even sang out loud during a couple of the praise songs. And even though it is good for me to go to church for the social aspect, not to mention the business connections, I think God is happy just that I was there. It's just a bonus that I benefit from going to church. So I guess in a round about way, I went to church for God; at least partially."

"And what about Easter? We just celebrated a holiday for Jesus. We celebrated His death and resurrection. We gave Him an entire day to commemorate His horrible death so that we can have salvation. I realize that we benefited from the celebration, but it was mostly for Jesus. It's not my fault that we got candy and presents, colored eggs, ham and mashed potatoes. I don't make the rules, I just follow them. And God doesn't want a non-conformist. It may make Him and His religion look bad. So I participated in Easter by eating; for Jesus sake. That's something for God."

"Christmas was another holiday that we celebrate God. Jesus Birthday! Again, not my fault that I received more than I gave on the twenty-fifth of December. I didn't design the holidays. Santa Claus is not my fault so I will count celebrating Christmas as something I did for God also."

"Two holidays a year and an hour most Sundays for God. Sounds like God gets quite a bit from me. And that's not counting when I say grace before meals; at least meals that involve my children. I feel that kids need to be raised to be thankful to God. Even if it isn't a fabulous meal, they should learn to be thankful. So that's something else that I do for God, teach my children to be thankful."

"So what more does God want from me?" I pray, go to church, celebrate holidays, encourage my children. Heck, I even stand up for Christianity when the conversations at work turn religious. And I sincerely do feel that Christianity is the best religion!"

"And I don't think God wants me to be a fanatic. The Bible teaches moderation, after all. If God wanted me to adhere to all of the strict, outdated rules and rituals then I would be considered a a fundamental extremist. Shoot, I may as well be a Muslim if that were the case, and I'm sure God doesn't want that. He needs all the Christians that he can get these days."

"So I think that the answer to the question of What have I done for God has been sufficiently answered. I think I do plenty, and that should be good enough to get me into Heaven. And I understand that is God's main objective."

...and God says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers. Matthew 7;21-23