Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV)
The past two weeks I focused on the phrase take your stand against the devil's schemes.
I listed three common schemes of the devil found in the parable of the sower and the seed in Mark 4.
Last week I discussed the second scheme "the deceitfulness of wealth." Today, I will discuss the final scheme "the desires for other things."
- The worries of this life.
- The deceitfulness of wealth.
- The desires for other things.
Proper perspective demonstrates maturity. Last week I discussed that money is a tool to be used to serve the purpose of God. A believer who has that Biblical perspective on money demonstrates maturity. The believer, who understands that it is never appropriate to worry, but that God can be trusted in every detail of life, demonstrates maturity.
Distraction is a major weapon of the enemy. The believer should always focus on God first. That is maturity. However, the scheme of the enemy is to distract us from God and to cause us to focus on other things.
Here are Scripture verses which show the appropriate focus for a believer.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33 NIV)
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossian 3:1-3)
Two weeks ago I discussed this passage from Matthew 6 in relation to worry. We all have the temporal need for food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus taught that he clothes the lilies of the field, and he feeds the birds of the air, how much more will he supply the need of his own covenant children. In this passage, Jesus teaches us to not worry. But, he also clearly teaches that your primary focus should be God and his kingdom not other things.
In Colossians Paul teaches that believers must set their hearts and their minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. In the past I have heard people say about certain individuals, "They are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." However, in reality you have nothing of substance to offer people unless your focus is set on the kingdom of God and on the things that are above.
What are the "other things" which we desire which distract our focus from God?
John said, Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (I John 2:15-17 NIV)
Here John gives three general descriptions of the things in the world we should never love.
God intends for his children to live a life of contentment and peace. There is nothing we should crave. There is nothing for which our eyes should lust. There is no arena in which we should boast.
- The cravings of sinful man.
- The lust of the eyes.
- The boasting of what he has and does.
Please understand that God wants you to enjoy life. He wants you to experience the abundance of joy. The world system dominated by Satan is not of God, but the earth belongs to God. The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1 NIV)
To enjoy life a believer must have the proper perspective. God is always first. No desire must ever be greater than our desire for God.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NIV)
If you choose to put God first, he will give you the desires of your heart. He will place in you godly desires, and he will also fulfill them.
Last week I mentioned the analogy of obedience to God is like walking down the middle of the road. The goal of Satan is to get you in the ditch on either side of the road. To put God first in everything, and then to enjoy life to the fullest would be to walk down the middle of the road. That is the desire of God for your life. One ditch would be for your life to be controlled by desires for things other than God. The ditch on the other side of the road would be for you to think God wants you to have nothing and to enjoy nothing. If you are in either ditch, you will have little impact on this earth for the kingdom of God.
It is really simple. Put God first, and then enjoy life. If any desires ever conflict with your pursuit of God, lay that desire or activity aside.
In the late 70's I was the pastor of Bala Chitto Baptist Church in southwest Mississippi. It was my practice to watch the evening news at 10:00, and then watch "Ironside." Then, I usually went to bed. We all need some diversion in life. We all need forms of relaxation.
However, the Holy Spirit began to deal with me about not watching Ironside. I was impressed to spend that hour in the church building seeking God. That was difficult for me to do at first. I really enjoyed watching Ironside. However, I chose to obey the Holy Spirit. That time of seeking God produced fruit in my life, and after a while, I enjoyed the time with God far more than a particular television program. I didn't even care about watching Ironside.
Being raised in the south, I grew up a huge college football fan. Over the past 25 years there have been a handful of times, when I sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted me to lay down college football for that season. I have the tendency to become very emotionally involved in the experience, and to invest far too much time keeping up with my team.
I believe that the Holy Spirit showed me earlier this year that he intends for 2006 to be the best year by far that I have ever experienced. I was impressed to give up football for the 2005 season. Whenever I did this before, it was usually a struggle, but this year I treasured his presence far more than watching a game.
Is it always a sin to watch a program like Ironside? Absolutely not! Is being a college football fan always a sinful activity? Definitely not! But, there are times in life when your desire for something can become so strong that maturity demands laying it down for a while for the pursuit of the kingdom of God.
What desires in your life become greater than your desire for God? For some it can be work. For others it can be a hobby. A few even place family ahead of their desire for God. Idolatry is to put anything in your life ahead of God.
What is the conclusion?
Follow the prescription above, and your life will be filled with purpose, joy, and fulfillment. Don't allow the worries of this life, or the deceitfulness of riches, or the desires for other things to choke the Word of God in your life.
- Seek God first.
- Enjoy life to the fullest.
- Never allow any desire to supersede your desire for God.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org
Wisdom From the Word
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