Motivation Matters

Romans 14:5-6, “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”

Some of the church members in the church at Rome honored Jewish feast days, while some viewed every day alike. The command in the text is not about uniformity but sincerity. Each person should be fully convinced in his own mind. Motive matters more than calendar markings. The issue is worship, not scheduling. Whether setting aside special seasons or treating all days as equally holy, the question is, “Am I doing this ‘to the Lord’?” Our Father delights in wholehearted devotion, not mechanical observance. Therefore, we should refrain from despising a brother’s festival or mocking another’s simplicity. Instead, worship for the fame and the glory of Jesus, not for human applause.