...that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands. ~2 Chronicles 12:8
George Thorogood and the Destroyers once asked "who do you love?" I doubt they had in mind a question so weighty as "do you love yourself and the things of this life, or do you love God and the things that come after this life?" I read the lyrics of the song and I still don't know what they love - perhaps snakes? There is a lot of talk about snakes in that song, but I digress...It is hard not to love life on this earth at times. There is so much that tastes good, looks good, and feels good. Many of these things are gifts from God, given with the full intention that we should enjoy them. Consider the gifts, though. Seeing the Milky Way stretched out across the sky is a gift from God. Seeing movies on a deluxe home theater system with a projector and a surround sound system is an indulgence, but it could be used for God's purposes. A charismatic personality is a gift from God, but James warns that the tongue is "a restless evil and full of deadly poison" (James 3:8), yet a gift of charisma can be used for God's purposes. Wealth can be used indulgently or for God's purposes. Likewise time, a large house, multiple vehicles, etc.
If we use God's gifts only for ourselves then we are storing up for ourselves treasures on earth, temporary and fickle things, where moths and rust destroy (Matthew 6:20). Using our gifts for God's purposes is a sacrifice, it has a cost, but only in this world. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ~Matthew 16:24
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