Alan Clark (27
Jan 2012)
"More Important?"
More Important than God?
Do not love the world or the things in
the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is
not in him.
1 John 2:15
If you have ever planted a seed and watched weeds grow around
it, then you know that weeds don't suddenly lunge out of the
ground and start violently shaking the plant. It is a gradual
process—so gradual that you wouldn't even be able to see it if
you were watching. But if you were to place a camera by the
plant and set it on time lapse, you would see the weed in
action, strangling the plant in slow motion.
Jesus told a parable about seed that fell on different types of
soil. The seed that had been scattered on ground that was
imbedded with weeds was choked out as it began to grow. Jesus
explained, "The seed that fell among the thorns represents those
who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded
out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no
fruit is produced" (Matthew 13:22).
There are some people who reject Christ for no good reason—just
excuses. For some, it may be a concern over their career. They
have a living to make. They have responsibilities. They have
things to do. And sometimes those things can be more important
to them than God.
Others will choose people over Jesus. Peer pressure doesn't end
with high school; we still care about what people think. We
still want people to like us. We want them to approve of us. And
sometimes we make the worst compromises imaginable out of fear
of what others think. Peter denied Jesus for fear of what a
complete stranger thought of him.
But if you give up some friends or a position or some pleasures
or any other thing for the sake of Christ, know this: God will
more than make it up to you.
Greg Laurie
harvest.org