What Seems Good to You?
When I was in school, I remember one of my professors asking the class to write down the top five things we spent our money on. For most people it was food, followed by bills, family, entertainment, and travel. I don't remember what I wrote but now my top five would be Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte, Charlotte, and Charlotte (after tithing of course). The purpose of the lesson was to reveal our priorities, people spend their money on what is most important to them. The same thing holds true about time, how we spend our time and money reveals what is central in our lives.
I find it quite disappointing when I learn of Christian pastors who live secular lives, but these days they are everywhere. Apparently, there is a man going around calling himself, The Cussing Pastor. A few months ago, I saw a clip of a lady pastor threatening her husband's mistress from the pulpit during Sunday service all while jumbo, digital PayPal and CashApp QR codes were glaring in the background. These “Christian” pastors are legitimized by the public and shepherd major ministries while freely and openly leading secular lives. They mingle with the world when scripture specifically says not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. There is no partnership between righteousness and lawlessness, there is no fellowship between light and darkness yet these pastors support pagan musicians, hobnob with celebrities, and glorify that which brings no glory to God, all while their congregations watch on and follow their example (2 Cor. 6:14). To the naked eye, it may all seem innocent, but it begs the question “What’s really important to them?”
You will probably not be condemned to hell for going to Beyonce’s concert, or anyone else’s for that matter, but the question is... “If you are a Christian, why would you want to go?” Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” In Psalm 73:25 Asaph says, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” This man knew the promises of the glory of heaven but none of them compared to being in the presence of God. And on earth, he didn't need fame or riches or pleasure, all he desired was the LORD. Asaph went on to say, “It is good for me to draw near to God” (Ps. 73:28). Shouldn't our Christian pastors desire God instead of the world? Shouldn't we desire God instead of the world? “No one can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24).
It seems good to the world to celebrate worldly things and worldly people but Gods people are supposed to be holy, which means set apart (1 Pt. 1:16). We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people and we should act like it (1 Pt. 2:9). It is not a good thing for the believer to blend in with the world, worship politicians and celebrities, support the endeavors of the wicked, be known as followers of the unrighteous and friends of the world (James 4:4). It is not a good thing for the believer to condone actions and behavior that bring glory to the god of this world instead of the God of creation. It is a good thing for the believer to hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is a good thing for the believer to devote their heart and soul to seeking the LORD (1 Chron. 22:19). It is a good thing to draw near to God.
What do you spend your money on? How do you spend your time? Who do you spend your time with? Let's go deeper... what is your heart’s desire? For what or for whom do you hunger and thirst? What seems good to you?
I’ll leave you with one of my husband’s favorite verses from King David, the man after Gods own heart, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Ps. 27:4).
