While listening to an old song by the band Delirious? this morning, I was struck by a thought. The song is called "Sanctify" on the King of Fools album, and some of the words go like...
And all I want
is all You have.
Come to me
Rescue me
Follow me
with Your Love.
I was in my "plan-my-life" world when this song came on. You know, we all have that "My World" - that selfish place in our minds where we tick off things that we've done, and make long lists of the things we want, the changes we wish for, and where we recount the indignant experiences that we've had to wrongfully suffer at the hands of this unfair world...
So I was in this world of mine, and without warning, a most unwelcome thought slapped me across the face. What does it matter, this fickle thing so-called "happiness"?
What do you mean, "what does it matter??" What an absurd thing to ask.
Does it matter to eternity?
I don't know..
Is God's Kingdom better for it?
God's Kingdom!? Where did that come from? We're not talking about God's Kingdom, we're talking about the things that will make me happy!
Tell me, if this thing that will bring you so-called happiness would hinder the expansion of God's Kingdom... If your decision to sacrifice this thing you want would result in the saving of lives.... would you sacrifice it?
Wait, wait... I still don't think we're talking about God's Kingdom, can we just get back to the matter at hand? I don't like where this conversation is going.
Would. You. Sacrifice. What YOU want... for God's Kingdom?
But what about that stuff about "the desires of your heart" being added to me...? I thought my desires mattered?
Seek first the Kingdom of God..... And THEN all these thing shall be added unto you... Is that the verse you're talking about?
Um. Yes that one.
*Inner voice smiles smugly*
I have these arguments with myself often, so just bear with me.... I'm not saying that our desires aren't important to God, but is it possible that our desires have become too important to us? Do our own desires consume us to the point where we are blind to the desperation of a dying world that needs passionate Jesus-followers to reach out with arms full of life?
I sometimes get the feeling that us Christians wipe our forehead with the back our hand, say "Phew! At least I got saved!" and then move onto the finer (and sadly such temporary) things in life. Have we become such a selfish, and self-righteous people, no better than the Jews of Christ's day? Have I?
I'm all for balance.
Yes, having some degree of happiness in life is good.
Yes, having my basic needs provided is important, both to me and to God.
Yes, there is place for personal growth and ambition and the desire to grow my life on earth.
BUT...
Never at the expense of God's Kingdom in my life! If God's Kingdom purpose is lacking, then my life is so horribly out of balance, being all about me, me, me... happiness, being a temporary thing, will fade to nothing.
I'm starting to face the challenge that if I can truly centre my life on what Jesus wants on this earth, He will take care of all the rest - all those things that I arduously try to sort out in "My World", all those things I fret over, the things that keep me up at night, the doubts that haunt me day in and day out... the selfish things.
There are more important things at hand. Life and death.
This really is just the tip of a very large iceberg, one that I'd like to see crashing into the cold, selfishness of my heart, sinking the whole rotten thing... making way for God to transplant His immensely compassionate heart in its place.
All I want
is all You have...
