What Do You Want From God?

Read Psalm 73:25-26

A few weeks ago in my message about exegesis, I briefly touched on the fact that many teachers promote the notion that God is simply a means to and end. We often treat God as the person we go to in order to get the thing that we really want. In many cases, the Bible has been downgraded to a cosmic self-help book. And believers have adopted the attitude of spiritual gold-diggers.

Now, I'm not only talking about the prosperity "name it-claim it' churches, but the church culture as a whole (at least in the States) has begun to treat God as simply a means to blessing, healing, finances, or at least a ticket to heaven.

In the Scriptures however, we see a different view of God. Psalm 16 declares, "(v2) I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'" And again in verse 5, "The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot." And in the last verse of the psalm, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (v11)."

Paul made it clear that knowing Christ is far more valuable than anything else.

Phil 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

The author of Hebrews makes a similar statement about Moses.

Hebrews 11: 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

I'm by no means saying it's wrong to ask God for anything. I hope no one gets that impression. But there is a problem if we begin to seek God only for what He can do for us. What do we value more?

In Psalm 73, Asaph wrote of a time when he almost slipped. He had been seeing godless people continue to prosper, while God's people continued to suffer. His turning point came when he got into the presence of God. This was his resolve;

"25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

He proclaims God to be of greater value than anything on earth, and of greater worth than heaven. My prayer is that we would all begin to adopt such a view.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
-John Piper

Grace & Peace

Dre Thompson - Member, Hope Community Church