THERE was once a priest who had his choir in the church which he looked after, and the choir was the best bunch of choristers that had ever graced the parish. People would not afford to miss the time the choir sang at different places. The priest died three days before a youth conference. He had helped the choir a lot during their rehearsals, helping to see the choir members were comfortable, encouraging the choir director and so on.
So the priest cried out to God that he could not miss the day his choir was singing at the function and God said you can’t go back on earth but the day your choir will be ministering, I will grant you the chance to see them singing on earth. So the day came and the tale goes that God fulfilled his promise to the priest.
He listened and waited for the choir to break forth in song, for the crescendos and pianissimos for the harmony for which the choir was known all over. He waited to hear the voice of the soloist who he had himself encouraged, but what he finally heard gave him a shock. What shocked the priest was that he could only hear one female voice amongst the whole choir. He turned with dismay; what he wondered was the problem.
He asked God why he was only hearing one voice yet people are rejoicing with the way they were singing…and God replied, “here in heaven we only hear the voices of those who sing in truth and in spirit and in right standing with my word…”.the priest cried and said what about the others? God replied,” they are doing it for prestige, for their own reasons, not for my sake so only those on earth rejoice, but the heavens are not moved by that.’
Like those singers, many of us do the same, don’t we? Going around doing social work, spending time helping the poor, helping in religious occasions, seemingly noteworthy things, but doing such with the motive of self enhancement and not for glorifying God. It’s a lesson for all we worshipers: Do not please man but please your Father who sees your heart, who sees every place you are at, who sees your commitment at his works. Otherwise all that you are doing here on earth won’t ever be noticed by a God in heaven…!
