A Multi-tasking Faith

A long time ago, a friend of mine asked me to become his "friend" on a website that allows people to get to know each other through other people's friends. In order to make him happy, and so he would quit bugging me about it, I signed up on the website and added him as my friend. When I got on the website, I saw that you could search through the members of the website based upon their interests. I decided to search for all the people who listed God as an interest of theirs but what I saw at that time was very heartbreaking.

About 90% of the people who were listed on this website as having "God" as their interest were wearing skimpy clothes and had language and activities in their profile that did not hold to the standards that God has set for us. Could it be that their "god" isn't really God himself but rather popularity and acceptance from those who look at their profile? Do they strive to be popular with the world instead of striving to be popular with God?

My sixth grade year was when I decided I didn't want to have anything to do with being "popular". Popularity to me was useless anyway because I knew that what was "popular" to those who were seeking to be held at high esteem by their peers was in no way what Jesus wants for those who follow Him. Popularity in the world's terms is all about sacrificing someone else's feelings in order to make yourself feel better, but as Christians we are called to humble ourselves before the Lord and give up our life so that He may become more while we become less.

What these "Christians", and those who aren't saved at all, don't understand is that when we try to gain the whole world, we forfeit what truly makes us complete--a personal relationship with Jesus Christ--and we end up losing what we were trying to gain in the first place:

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:34-36)

We live in a world where popularity is what seems to get you places, but those who constantly strive to have the acceptance of others will find that acceptance of the world, is rejection of the Lord. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus tells us about having two masters, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." We cannot be truly devoted to God when our foot is still caught in the door of this world!

Whose attention do you strive for? The world's or God's? Are you trying to multi-task your faith? It can't be done! We must put our faith and strength into one thing alone: our relationship with Christ! Remember that no matter what happens in your life, no matter how lonely or unpopular you feel, God is always there for you and loves you more than all the love this world has combined! As you go throughout your day, remember that Jesus accepts you as you are; He wants you to strive to be with Him no matter your current condition. Seek first the Kingdom of God and you will find that the Lord provides all that you will ever need (Matthew 6:33).