Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God is telling His people that He is aware of their sins. He tells them in many ways about their folly.
But here God shows them that they are not only provoking God, but they are hurting themselves.
Jeremiah 7:17-19
Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking? declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?
We, too, can be sinning against God and harming ourselves.
Spending our time, energy, and resources chasing after other things that are not of God. We are not only sinning against God, but we are harming ourselves.
God made us in His image. He made us for a relationship with Him. When we do life without Him, we are not helping ourselves.
Father, help us to know that your ways are not only right, but they are best. Keep us on the path that leads to life and joy in You.
