Will You Put Your Trust in God 1st
or Others 1st?
I see a big
question vying for supremacy in the hearts and lives of churches, families and
individuals today in America. It’s a question that may be a bit confusing at
first glance—Will you put your trust in
God 1st or others 1st? Jesus taught us the golden
rule which is to love others as we love ourselves, but today so many
churches and individuals are putting others and their needs first instead of
second. Let me explain. Jesus said that there are two commands that all the
Law and the Prophets hand on: #1 Love God 1st with all your heart,
soul, mind, and strength and #2 Love others as yourself.
Today, the focus of
so many is how to reach, reach, reach more people. It is about getting a higher
number of people involved in an effort to serve them inside programs and
systems. Those who do this are bending over backwards, working themselves
ragged, and rarely take any time to slow down and rest. But the truth is that Jesus rested. He even walked away from
crowds that wanted Him to do miracles, sent His disciples away, and went to a
solitary place to commune with His Father.
The Bible also tells us that Jesus only did the will of His Father (John 6:38). Jesus never did
anything that He wanted to do, but submitted every action to His Father. While
we are imperfect, we still must aim for that standard and by God’s grace may we
begin applying it on a consistent basis.
Although we usually don’t think of it this
way, putting others first is a form of idolatry. Anything ahead of our
relationship with the Lord is idolatry. This is a challenging lesson that I
am learning as well, but if I put any ministry, any activity, any endeavor, any
person, anything before God, I am sinning.
The core of the
false teaching of seeker friendliness is putting other people and their needs
ahead of a personal relationship with God. Thus, all that is built is programs and outreaches based on needs—another
social gospel—not God’s Kingdom. God’s Kingdom is one that begins in the
heart of a man and then works itself into His life, transforming Him into a new
creation as the seed of Almighty God’s Spirit blooms and grows as it is fed
with the living nutrients and water of Jesus Christ (the Word).
