- Jesus Is Better
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In 2008 a card game called “Justin and Dave’s Awesome Would You Rather?” hit the stores. The game asks you to decide between two bizarre options and give your reasoning why. For example: “Would you rather lose the ability to read or lose the ability to speak?” “Would you rather be covered in fur or covered in scales?” “Would you rather live without the internet or live without AC and heating?”
These exercises of the mind can reveal what is important to us. Comfort, self-respect, and dignity are priorities for us, but when we have to choose between them, things can get difficult.
There is an old hymn with the following lyrics:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame.
I’d rather be true to His holy name.
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway.
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
So here is the challenge to you: “Would you rather?” Would you rather have Jesus or wealth and fame? Would you rather have Jesus or comfort and ease? We live in a day and time where we rarely have to ask these kinds of questions, but we have brothers and sisters across the world that often have to choose between Jesus and suffering.
There is only one answer, and you know the answer: Jesus is better than anything! Everything but a life lived for Christ is empty. Melissa Kruger says, “One who attempts to quench his thirst in seawater will only find himself thirstier still. If he keeps drinking, eventually he will die. Likewise, one who attempts to quench his spiritual thirst with temporal stuff will only find himself thirsty for more. This world’s treasures simply cannot satisfy our souls. They were never intended to do so. Jesus is the only remedy for our spiritual hunger. It’s the greatest kindness, then, to invite others to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8).”
Would you rather have Jesus?
In Christ,
Pastor Phil