LOVING THE LORD MORE THAN RECOGNITION
The Bible says the Lord Jesus Christ created us, and laid down his life in demonstration of his love for us (John 1:1-4; John 3:16. And the Lord God has great desire to have a loving relationship with us, wherein we love him more than anything in the world (Matthew 22:37).
But the biblical Word of God tells us there are many things of the world that compete for our attention and adoration of the Lord (1 John 2:16). For many the desire for power and recognition is greater than their love of the Lord. However, the Lord says if we delight in him more than anything else, he will give us the desires of our heart (Matthew 6:33, Psalm 37:4).
PROBLEMS Of LOVING RECOGNITION MORE
- ADAM AND EVE desired to have power and recognition like the Lord more than they desired to obey and please Him. Hence, they were separated from God. (Genesis, chapter 3).
- KING BELSHAZZAR OF BABYLON demonstrated his pomp by letting his lords drink wine from the sacred vessels of the Lord God. He failed to reverence God, although God had previously humbled his father King Nebuchadnezzar for failing to glorify God (Daniel 4:30-32). The Lord caused King Belshazzar to lose his kingdom (Daniel, chapter 5).
- PILATE. To save his position of power as a Roman appointed ruler, Pilate chose to disregard Jesus’ innocence of any wrong, and delivered the Son of God over to the leaders of the Jews to be crucified (John 18:28-30; 19:4-16).
POSITIVE RESULTS OF LOVING THE LORD MORE
DAVID, a shepherd boy, was “a man after God heart;” and God made him a king” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22).
JESUS, the Son of God, provides us a perfect example of humility and love for God: Jesus was in the heavenly form of God; but in obedience to the Father, the Lord took the form of man that he might die for our sins. Therefore, God the Father has highly exalted him that every knee should bow and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11).
WE ARE BLESSED MORE FOR LOVING JESUS MOST
The Lord said if we deny ourselves for his sake, we will be blessed in this life, and also reign with him in heaven (Luke 18:29-30; 2 Timothy 2:12). While some may forgo Christian values to achieve recognition at school, at work or among others; for obeying Christ, God often gives us significant positions in this world, while seeing us as royalty (Revelation 1:6). Although some may covet power or idolize fame more than they adore or aspire to be like the Lord, God recognizes us as children of God who love Jesus more (1 John 3:1-2).
