The path of the Altar

…Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
…Which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Matthew 23.17-19

What you consider greater and more important becomes your goal.

Many say they choose the path of the Altar when they actually want the path of the gold. This is, they say they want to get to the Altar, but what they really want is to get to the gold. Because, for them, the gold deposited on the Altar is more important than the Altar itself.

Those who want to walk the path of the gold have their thoughts focused on the gold. Their concern is to find ways to benefit from it. So, they focus on filling churches with people, obtaining titles, being recognized by people, having their name exalted and conquering material goods for themselves.

But those who want to walk the path of the Altar have their thoughts focused on the Altar. Their concern is to find ways to benefit the Altar. So they concentrate on making disciples, serving God in all circumstances, leading people to know God, seeing Jesus’ Name being glorified and investing so that more souls can be reached.

These are two completely different paths that lead to opposite destinations but many still insist on believing they can take advantage of the “best of both worlds”. But there is no way you can serve two masters, or walk down two paths. Either you walk down one or the other; either you intend to benefit from the gold or intend to benefit from the Altar. What are your true intentions?

The path of the Altar is the way into the arms of God, but the path of the gold is the way to hell.