“Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows” (Psalm 16:4)

Who chooses other gods? Why would anyone do such a thing if it leads to multiplied sorrows?

Yet people do this all the time.

Any time anything or anyone other than God becomes our ultimate concern, ultimate passion, and ultimate interest, they are our gods. This can take the form of our careers, family, children, lovers, etc. Anything that becomes our primary concern functions as our gods.

The Bible has a name for this: idolatry.

Should anyone ever pursue idolatry, only multiplied sorrows is the result. If multiplied sorrows is the result of idolatry why would anyone go down such a path?

Aha! That’s just the thing. This is all about deception. This deception is of the devil. Idols do provide immediate gratification, satisfaction, and pleasure. But it is always fleeting and momentary. It is never permanent. It will always lead to starvation and dissatisfaction. Eventually, the pursuit of such idols leave us empty and broken. But that’s not even the worst part. The pursuit of idols destroys not only the idolator, but everyone the idolator holds dear.

This is the multiplication of sorrows.

So, what is the antidote to idolatry? The psalmist tells us: “You are my Lord: I have no good apart from you” (Psalm 16:2).

Turn to God. Be devoted to God. Submit to God. Surrender to God. Rest in God. Delight yourself in God. The way we do that is to subject all other things under our devotion to God.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Jesus tells us “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Romans 12:9 tells us, “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

John 1:12 tells us, “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”

The scriptures are clear. God saves those who believe and receive his gift of eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ.

Even though the testimony of scriptures are sure, there are times when we struggle with believing that God could love us. The problem is our sight. Our sight bears witness to our many sins and failures.

But faith is the opposite of sight. Faith is to believe that we are saved because that is what God promised through his word even when our seeing tells us that we are sinners.

The reason why we continue to sin is because we are still a work in process. God is not done working in and through us. This is sanctification. This is what becoming more like Christ looks like. As long as we live in this flesh, this body, we will wrestle with sin. That we struggle and wrestle, instead of giving into sin, is proof that the Holy Spirit is still working in us.

Keep at it. Keep going. God is working in you right now. We are works in process.

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)

All this…

• The global pandemic
• Racial tension and upheaval
• Economic turmoil
• Not worshiping in person
• Social distancing
• Social isolation

All this…

God is at work in you to make you more complete. God is working through these situations to use you to be a light and hope to a world floundering. God is working right now. God is working right now in you and through you.

It is not enough to endure and survive. God has given us everything in his church and through his Holy Spirit for us to thrive.

Jesus tells us in John 14:26, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

Because God is at work through the Holy Spirit, Jesus tells us, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in my will also do the works that I do and in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

Isn’t that amazing?!?!

Endure? Survive?!?!

Are you kidding me?!?! God is at work in you and me and promises to do an amazing work in and through you. Do not settle for enduring or surviving.

The key is abiding and working with the Holy Spirit. The key is allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you and shape you.

Church, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”

Thrive!