You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (I Thessalonians 2:10-12 NKJV)
There is such a great wealth in being content with desiring God. It is futile to live to culminate earthly treasures that will ultimately sift through our fingers when we leave earth at death.
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (I Timothy 6:8 NKJV)
So what about romance? There is nothing under this profile of contentment in 1 Timothy 6 that talks about being content with being single!
After all, wasn’t God who said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18 NKJV)?
God did said that. In fact, Proverbs 18:22 says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.”
So what’s the problem, John? I find a wife: it makes God happy, and He even blesses me with His favor.
I interrupt the eharmony chat room only on this ground: Is she/he the upmost pursuit to win your greatest interest? In other words, is she the center of your drive through life?
If so, you might need to evaluate.
Check this out. You’ve decided to follow the Son. I mean that’s why you’re reading this blog right?…right?
Then what does this verse convey to you?
If then you were raised with Christ [dead to sin and now alive in Christ as this new creation] seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1 NKJV)
Seek Heaven’s treasures: golden streets, big mansions, loved ones and crowns. No. Seek those things which are above: where Christ is. The things we glean from above is the outcome as we set on eyes on Jesus. The focus is Christ. He is our life.
Read what follows verse three:
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 NKJV)
This new life we have been rebirthed in is inside Christ. So we set [our] mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2 NKJV) because Christ is literally our life now.
I’m all for relationships! I just want you to see that Christ is crazy about you.
You know enough that in any romantic relationship, you need to give your everything for that person. Christ gave Himself for you that He might redeem you from sin. And it goes on. Read Ephesians 1 and see some great blessings of God you have in Christ!
He is jealous over you (Ex 34:14). In my opinion, I wouldn’t venture in a relationship, if you’re cheating on your first love!
Being content in God is great wealth in itself. Romance should never steal your heart from loving the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV)
Enjoy relationships but enjoy God more.
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise…”(I Corinthians 1:27 NKJV)
God confounds our intellect when He uses debased things to carry out His intelligent operation. An excellent example is God’s sovereign use of Jonah to convert Nineveh.
Jonah hated Nineveh. Their people had oppressed Israel. Now God called Jonah, an Israelite, to witness to his enemies.
From start to end of the book of Jonah, Jonah carried a bitter grudge against the very people God desired to experience his mercy.
In sheer awe of God’s wrath, Nineveh immediately repents:
“Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10 NKJV)
God enjoyed to take pity on Nineveh; however, Jonah shared a different response:
“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” (Jonah 4:1 NKJV)
Hatred propelled Jonah to run to Tarshish, and hatred hardened his heart to Nineveh’s revival. He hated the idea of Nineveh receiving salvation. Yet God chose this hateful person to deliver hope.
God doesn’t choose us by our skills or talents; He qualifies anyone whom He wills to accomplish His plan to receive glory for Himself.
Jonah shows us that God’s delight to receive glory exceeds the liberty of man. God doesn’t bend His plans to suit man’s feelings. He uses whomever, whenever and however.
He used a disobedient, unreliable son to be the chosen ancestor of the Messiah to convey God’s road of glory may even include unexpected potholes.*
He used a prostitute to save the spies of Israel to show His grace confounds our reason.**
He used a false prophet to bless His chosen people to say He can even use evil men to please His wants.***
God has called all his own to serve in bringing Him praise:
“…who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”(II Timothy 1:9 NKJV)
God saved you not to be a pet in His collection of souls, but a masterpiece of His wide scale operation to fulfill His wants.
Ephesians 2:10 puts it this way, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV)
If God has determined an event that involves our participation, He may use us even with our unwilling attitudes. Let us then see that our destiny is designed by God to glorify Him. And on that thought, let us want to complete it with a willing spirit.
*Gen 49:8-10
**Joshua 2
***Numbers 22-24
God is eager to glorify Himself. He goes as far as using providence to manipulate the course of man’s will to author a testament of praise to God.
Joseph is a classic work piece of praise to God. Joseph suffers the anguish of being sold into slavery by his own brothers, then is framed for adultery and imprisoned for 2 years. Yet it delighted God for Joseph to undergo these trials. And while we know the prosperous outcome of Joseph, we neglect to imagine the grief Joseph experiences through these circumstances for the sake of God’s pleasure.
And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:7 NKJV)
At the moment Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, he comforts them by disclosing to him that his descent was purposed by God to save their lives.
God confounds the wisdom man when he uses tragic episodes of life and transforms them to handiworks of glory.
Joseph did not expect his struggles will result in being a father to Pharaoh and a ruler of Egypt. Egyptians hated the Hebrews so this is never enter into the thought of Joseph (Gen 43:32). Yet Joseph’s trauma birthed a testimony of God’s grace that forces him to glorify God.
God wants to author your life to tell of His magnificence. God does works all things together for good to those who love God (Rom 8:28), but those who are sincerely being conformed to His image (Rom 8:29) would hold their good to the good of God which is for His name to be lifted up.
God desires for the knowledge of His glory to fill the whole earth (Hab 2:14).
All the scans of the known world lived off the fat of Egypt during the global famine, and it is inevitably possible that the nations learn of Joseph’s Great God and worshipped. Joseph’s house manager glorified God at Joseph’s brothers’ curiosity of their money in their sacks (Gen 43:23). Pharaoh glorified God and set His ambassador Vice President of Egypt (Gen 41:38).
You have to give God every chapter of your life for the praise of His glory.
He is passionate for His glory, and He has commanded that you effort everything for His glory (1 Cor 10:31). Make it a delight to God to offer yourself available to His pleasing (Rom 12:1). He wants to be praised!
FOLLOW THE SON 