There are many scriptures that we tend to funnel through our own societal norms. This is dangerous and defies all the rules of hermeneutics. It leads us into an idolatrous religious experience, just as the people in Jeremiahs day. When scripture says something it is a fact and should be weighed as just that: Truth.
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
As we go about our lives Jesus
is either at the center or He isn't. He is either the "filter" that every thought, every word and every action is brought through (as He lives in us Col 1:27) or He isn't. He is
either the closest friend, confidant and lover that we have or He isn't. He is either the One we live for or he is at arms length.
One of the things we have been able today to do is to separate out belief and the act of trusting. For many an intellectual belief in Christ as the man who lived or even as
the Savior of the world is not the same as receiving Him nor trusting Him. For instance if I said you won the lottery and you believed me...would you just believe me and go on with your day or would you trust me and act on it appropriating the winnings into your life? With Christ we have much more than any lottery could ever give us...we have God Himself.
These two statements of Jesus are fact: where your treasure is there your heart will be. The heart is the deepest part of a person and what we tend to hold most preciously. And it can be many things: cars, houses, the way you look, the way people think about you, your husband or wife, your kids, whatever it may be it cannot share the space with Jesus. To many people Jesus is just a part of their life instead of the one that gives life and if this is the case you cannot (not a matter of desire but a matter of ability) share that space between Jesus Christ and things.
A.W. Tozer puts it very succinctly in his book "The Pursuit of God"
Before the Lord God made man upon the earth He first prepared for him by creating a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of the creation these are called simply "things." They were made for man's uses, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him.
But sin has introduced complications and has made those very gifts of God a potential source of ruin to the soul. Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and "things" were allowed to enter. Within the human heart "things" have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.
This is not a mere metaphor, but an accurate analysis of our real spiritual trouble.
I pray that all that read this will come to the bread of life and be satisfied…to the living water that they will never thirst again. It is not about doctrine or religious ritual but about Christ Jesus and a living vibrant relationship with Him. Jesus summed up eternal life in those specific terms.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
3 comments:
Good stuff, Dave! You nailed it for me when you wrote this:
"To many people Jesus is just a part of their life instead of the one that gives life..."
This is what took so many years for me to really "see." He is Life, not just part of it or even first on my to-do list...He is my very life.
Thanks for this wonderful post. I'll be back!
The subject of prosperity for the Christian is a difficult one. I believe it comes down to a balance. As you said, it comes down to putting God first. For me, I believe that the Words of Jesus in Matthew 6:31-34 define it for me:
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:31-34 nkjv
It's all about not worrying about anything. If we truly know God's love for us and know we are right with Him through Christ - then we will not give material provision much of a thought as we trust in Him to meet all of our needs, as and when they arise.
Thank you Vicki and Paul...great comments I appreciate you reading the blog
Post a Comment