What It Takes to Please God

What do you think it takes for you to please God?

Like, if I just ________________________, then I would please God. 

Is it how much you give?

Is it how much you serve in your church? If so, that means that God is most pleased with people who work in the children's ministry. Or maybe the janitor who has to clean the toilets.

Is it how much you pray? Or maybe is it how much you fast? God loves it when his people starve themselves for him. (God loves messing with people while they fast. He plays back-to-back Outback Steakhouse commercials. And I believe while praying, I've heard him crunching bacon in the background.)

Is it how high you lift your hands in worship? God loves him some pentecostal worship. B.Y.O.T. If you ain't bringing your own tambourine to church, then you ain't doing it right.

Is it how much you read your Bible? Maybe God give "at-a-boys" to someone who can read Leviticus in three sittings.

Better yet, do you please God by memorizing Scripture? It's a proven fact that Bible Quiz Bowl Champs are the most successful and blessed people in the world.

Maybe, if you want to please God, you never sin. Like you know the big stuff: say no to drugs, tobacco, sex, cussing, porn, and Housewives.

Or, if you want to please God, is it about how much you go to church and/or church related activities? He's pleased when he looks at your resume and sees that you have perfect attendance, are in three small groups, a Beth Moore Bible study, volunteer in the children's ministry, attend every prayer gathering, are the church secretary, play on your church softball team, and you organize all bake sales. And that's just on Tuesday! Dang, that has to please God!

Is it how much you love? You know if you really want to please God, then you have to love people. Like seriously, it doesn't matter who it is, you love them. You love people whose own mommas can't love them.

Maybe you please God by being better than everyone else. God comes to you for advice sometimes.

No, none of those things please God.

Do you know what the one requirement to please God is? Faith.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6).

That's it. The one requirement to please God is faith. You can do all those things above and if you don't have faith, you aren't pleasing God.

There are a lot of people in church doing those things who do not have faith. They are doing a lot.  They are even making the world a better place; but they aren't pleasing God because they really don't believe.

You might love the Hell out of people, but if you don't have faith, then you aren't pleasing God.

It's not the tithing, scripture memorizing, sinless, praying, loving, read-your-Bible-in-two-weeks, worship-while-you-sweat, Albert-Einstein-of-Christianity, bake-sale-organizer-while-you-fast people who please God.

If you are doing those things to please God (or to get his attention), then you are wasting your time.

If you want to please God, then you have to have faith. It is as simple (and as difficult) as that.

Question:
Are you pleasing God?