acts put on by some of the most liberally-minded candidates running for office.
Wearing concerned faces about abortion, murder and the oppression of the
freedoms of speech and religion, some politicking fiends prey upon the religiously
devout, knowing their appointment relies wholly upon morality and godliness;
however, upon their being elected, the fanatical image distorts. Politicians and
endless others feignedly claim God and Christianity as their own, not for what
they can do for God but what God can do for them. No one has the right to take
advantage of God – to play Him a fool and use Him for one’s own selfish devices.
Immediately subsequent to Jesus’ foretelling to the disciples His suffering and
death, James and John went to Him saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us
whatever we ask” (Mk. 10:35 NKJV). Not only did the apostles fail to understand
the things to which Jesus alluded, but each, in turn, exclusively thought of self.
They told Jesus what they wanted Him to do for them. “Grant us that we may sit,
one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory” (Mk. 10:37
NKJV).
For some, talk of God is used for a pleasing presentation to a Christian
employer. There are entrepreneurs who use Christianity to find the most
quantitatively and socially acceptable church in which they can commingle and
advance business endeavors. On even the smaller, more personal scale, some
believe God can give them empowering health and wealth – in other words, a
service from God without true service to Him. In fact, Paul said those who
suppose financial “gain is godliness” are “destitute of the truth” and should rather
with as little or much food, raiment and money as they have “be therewith
content” (1 Tim. 6:5-8).
Instead of considering Christianity from the “What can God do for me?”
standpoint, one should only long to learn and live “What can I do for God?”.
Needless to mention, God has done abundantly for us; there is no end to the effort
Christians should put forth for the glory of God. James and John admitted a
willingness to suffer as Christ suffered and historically are counted for having
done so (Mk. 10:38,39; ie. Ac. 12:1,2; Re. 1:9). Yet, Jesus’ lesson is simple: there is
no place for egotism in the church. Humility is the rule (Mk. 10:42-45). As Jesus
taught, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Lk. 22:42). We love God “because He
first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).
Christians shouldn’t preach to please men (Ga. 1:10). They shouldn’t make
spectacles of prayers, Bible readings or works to be seen of men (Mt. 23:4-5,14).
Let us live to please God with every word—every thought—every choice—every
action. Top rock and country music artists may introduce their mainstream music
to the so-called “Christian music” market, greedily scheming for greater revenue,
but faithful Christians set a different tone. In every status of life, they continue
daily, quietly and humbly laboring in their service to the King only because they
want to do more for Him.
