God is not pleased with meaningless rituals. There are many references in the Bible to prove this. The Lord says, "I desire mercy not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6) "They offer sacrifices… but the Lord is not pleased with them." (Hosea 8:13). In Samuel 15:22 we read that "To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams". God wants a broken spirit. "The sacrifices of God are broken spirit" (Psalm 15:17). A person may call himself a Christian and practice all rituals which outwardly declare his faith. He may attend Church, give tithe regularly, support church activities, serve on numerous committees and do everything but all time the question is whether God would approve and acknowledge all that as evidence and expression of his love for Him. Shelley, an English poet says in one of his essays, that a mathematician can draw a straight line with a crooked heart and an astronomer can fall into a ditch while gazing at the stars. Yes a religious and pious looking man can be involved in all religious works with the most crooked and ugly heart. This kind of ritualistic life is far from the right living which alone can please God. Our offerings to God are in vain if we have not offered our heart to him. "Man looks at the outward appearances but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7). If the aim of our 'religious works' is pleasing man and acquiring posts, the reward is enjoyed here on the other side of eternity. Shallow show of zeal is adequate enough to accomplish this. But if we wish to win the approval of our Master above, we need to have something more than mere outward zeal. We are exhorted that even before we go to the altar which is an external manifestation of our devotion, we must examine within ourselves to check if we harbour any harsh feelings against anyone. This is the inward quality that our Lord desires us to have. In this context, feelings of pride, envy, hatred, anger, jealousy and rivalry do not and can not co exist with the true devotion for God. If we wish to be accepted by our Heavenly Master, we have to humble ourselves, rid our heart of all wicked thoughts and surrender ourselves as living sacrifice. Right living and right thinking alone can please God not our rituals which might please man.