There is a real danger of compartmentalizing our relationship with GOD and deceiving ourselves into believing that whatever compartment we put Him in, faithfulness in that particular area of our life will be sufficient for us to be considered faithful as a whole.
On one side, you have the individual who never misses a worship assembly. They worship faithfully inside the walls of a structure every time the doors are open. Because of their seemingly flawless attendance record, they have deceived themselves into believing that this is what makes the difference. As long as one is faithful to assemble and worship, their relationship with GOD is in good standing.
On the other side, there is the individual who, rarely darkens the door of an assembly if at all, but is quite content because they have placed faithfulness to GOD in the compartment of doing good works. They may say, “I do not go to church, but I volunteer, I read my Bible, I know my Bible, and I pray every day.” Because of their seemingly flawless daily good works record, they have deceived themselves into believing that this is the compartment that makes the difference. As long as these things are true, their relationship with GOD is in good standing.
I would suggest that both positions are flawed. A successful relationship with GOD cannot be placed in a single compartment but must encompass the whole of our life.
This is not an (either or) but an (and both).
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Matthew 23:23
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Luke 11:42

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