Little children, keep yourselves from idols… Somebody once said that an idol is not necessarily the statutes that we physically set up to worship, but those things we set up in our hearts to take first place above our devotion to Jesus. Anything that competes for first place in one’s life is an idol.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
The challenge
Jesus vs King of a vast domain: Which would you rather have?
I expect to hear a resounding – ‘JESUS’ But I warn you, it is very challenging… I hope you can see the challenge in the following:
I’d rather be His than have riches untold – who doesn’t appreciate a bit of Benjamin? Everybody does.

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands – who doesn’t fancy a good-looking villa in the city or country side?

I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause – who doesn’t like the number of likes on their posts going up, the number of followers increasing, a little tweet here and a little Facebook there of your posts? I do!

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause.

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame – the desire to be famous is in all of us, like it or not, it’s there.

I’d rather be true to His holy name.

I’d rather have Jesus than to be the king of a vast domain – who doesn’t like to called the big man on campus? Who doesn’t like to be the one calling the shots?

I’d rather have Jesus than be held in sin’s dread sway – than, there is a more dangerous idol – sinful pleasures and hidden sins.

I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today – how about some good old fashion – STUFF. Who doesn’t like stuff. Gadgets, shoes, cars… come on guys, some really expensive toys, now you’re talking!

If you don’t struggle with any of the above, call me up and tell me. I want to be like you when I grow up. But it gets easy:

Challenge made easy
He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom

He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb

He’s all that my hungering spirit needs

I’d  rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Anyone who can give up anything at anytime for Jesus, is a person who really knows the value that Jesus brings. See, Jesus makes it easy. He satisfies our hunger and our every desire. I have come to realize that nothing this world offers can satisfy this soul of mine. No matter how much I feed it with stuff, material goods and earthly pleasures, only Jesus can satisfy my deepest need. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the good things of life, “may God smite me with them, and may I never recover” in the words of Tevya, Fiddler on the Roof, but the finest things of this world will never satisfy the way Jesus does.

That’s why I’d rather have Jesus than to be a king of a vast domain