Why is it okay for people to give something up for the Lent, but only partially? Like if you give up drinking soda, you can give it up just at lunch but still have it at dinner? Did Jesus carry the cross only in the morning and give it up in the evening? Did Moses chill in the desert only in the cool of the night, but not the heat of the day? Ummm... No. So why, if you insist on sacrifice, would you do it half way?
And does the Word not tell us it is better to be obedient than to sacrifice? Would our sacrifice mean anything if we can't obey?
Look at Saul in 1 Samuel 15... READ IT... Saul was rejected as king.
Saul was told to completely destroy the Amalekites, completely. The Lord was disgusted with these people because of what they did to the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. Saul was to kill everything they had, including women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys. Saul gathered his troops, all 210,000 of them and went to attack. He did warn the Kenites, a people who were kind to the Israelites, to leave before the attack, which was a compassionate thing and pleasing for God... But after that, (MISTAKE #1) he went to attack and he captured Aga, the king of Amalek, and then destroyed all the other people with the sword. Then, (MISTAKE #2) Saul and his troops decided to keep the best of the sheep, cattle, and fatlings, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. Before returning to Gilgal, (MISTAKE #3) Saul went to Carmel and set up a monument for himself.
God became angry and told Samuel that He regretted making Saul king because he had turned from the Lord and did not carry out the instructions his Lord gave him. Samuel asked Saul upon his return why he had kept these things and Saul said it was to offer sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel told Saul the things that the Lord told him about the things he had done.
Samuel said from God, "Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination (the practice of attempting to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge by occult or supernatural means), and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king."
Now then... does it seem like that would have been a dirty sacrifice to the Lord who gave Saul so much? That would be like if I robbed a bank and decided to give that dirty money to the church to do God's work. The church would be better off without it because God doesn't want your two-faced gifts. God doesn't give us two-faced gifts. He blesses us wholly when we obey Him.
What happens if you give up your soda or your candy for Lent? Do you think, first of all that it is a significant sacrifice? Do you consider that fasting? Fasting is for a time of prayer, not just because your church has a set time period that you participate in to give up one little tiny thing as your demonstration of the faith that has been taught you.
Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). You get to know God, like really know Him, like you know your family and your friends, and you do what He tells you because He is your Father and He knows what is best for you. He tries to show you and teach you and all He wants is for you to listen.
Be still when He says "be still" and move when He says "move". Don't give up a tiny little bad habit for just a specified period of time to try and show Him you're for real. What does that do to minister to those who don't know God... show them how you can give up chocolate for a little while? Wouldn't God rather you teach others about who He is and what He has done for you?
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