Why Do We Cling To Other Things? - Part 2

Among other things, a wealthy grandmother gave her grandson a Bible as a gift when leaving home to go to university for the first time. As she handed him the book, she said to him, “this is the best gift I could ever give you”. Puzzled, the young man thought about all the other valuable items of clothing, phone, laptop and other gadgets he had received from his grandmother. He wondered why she thought the Bible was much more valuable than the others, especially since he knew his grandma had a big estate he would later inherit as an only grandchild. 

The first time he opened the Bible to read, he found this inscription in his grandma’s writing, “this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” The young man later became a Christian and fully understood what his nan meant. The point is not that the Bible has mystical powers, such that it’s physical presence repels sin, but that in it is contained the Word of God, which when read and heeded brings life and righteousness. Here is how the Psalmist puts it: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11, NKJV)

The devil makes sin look attractive, enticing and liberating. It’s the old but effective trick of appealing to our sinful nature, like he did with Adam and Eve in Eden. They already had a relationship with God, which meant they had everything they needed. The devil tricked them into believing there was something better. They believed him and let go of God for the lie the devil sold them. They let go of life for death, and spent the rest of their lives dealing with the consequences. 

In the same way, the devil wants to rob us of our joy and peace. He often dangles a sugarcoated, poisonous carrot before us. He uses our sinful desires to lure us away from God. He steals from us, destroys our relationship with God and ultimately he wants us dead, not just physically, but eternally separated from God. (John 10:10). That’s why Peter warned “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

This is how James puts it: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:1-4, NLT)

What we want is not always what we need. When we want what we need, our lives is the richer and the better for it. We become fulfilled. What’s mankind’s greatest need? It’s God! All we need is God! The Psalmist said, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.” (Psalm 42:1, NIV). Godly affections draw us closer to God. The closer we are to God, the harder it is for the enemy to lure us away. Conversely, the further we are from God, the easier it is for him. Again the Psalmist says, “Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10, NIV). 

We cling to other things because we are tricked into believing they are good for us, but nothing compares to life in God. James says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8, NIV). Sometimes we try to do the resisting, without the submitting. When we claim to submit, we do it from a distance, we don’t draw near. God is inviting us to draw close to him. It is in him our true victory over the enemy lies. It is through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit we can overcome. 

Let us cling to him, he will give us rest for our soul, cling to his word, for in it there is life, cling to his way, for it is the way of salvation. May God be our uttermost desire!