The Battle for The Throne
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (ESV)
When we look at the depravity and turmoil going on right now in our culture, specifically in the music industry and Hollywood, the verse above comes to mind. How easily can money, notoriety, and fame seduce us all? Sadly, there are even prominent, well-known pastors who have fallen prey to this and it seems that social media only fuels the fire. At times like this, I feel blessed to not have the temptation of riches; sometimes less really is more!
It’s not just money and materialism, though. Perhaps more now than ever, there seems to be a desperation to be seen, heard, and loved by others. To be truly known. How quickly we forget that we are seen, heard, loved, and fully known by the creator of the universe! We work hard for what’s already available to us in a perfect and loving God. We chase after lesser gods in an attempt to be the masters of our own destinies. We are not unique in this; it’s been the story since the fall of man.
Consider Herod, who was a ruthless King. Put in power by the Romans about 40 years before the birth of Christ, King Herod was a narcissist way before the word was trendy and overused like it is today. Though he wasn’t a practicing Jew, he was called, “King of the Jews”. He was a man with great power, wealth, and fame and it’s apparent that all of that went to his head. He oppressed the Jewish people and was a tyrannical leader.. Imagine his disdain when he heard about a baby who had taken his title as King of the Jews(Matthew 2:1-2). Herod, a power-wielding, attention-loving man against a little baby. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? While a self-assured, confident, and sane King might have laughed it off, Herod sprung into action, manipulating, scheming, and lying in an attempt to find this King of the Jews. When his plan failed, he had all the male toddlers in Bethlehem slaughtered.
Two kings, both with very different motives and, apart from being human, have nothing in common with each other.
One a tyrant, one a servant.
One self-centered, one sacrificial
One a curse to many, one a gift to the world
One ruthless, the other gentle
One who put himself on a pedestal, the other who stepped down from heaven to earth
One with something to prove, the other sent from God to prove something
One willfully defiant, one submitted to God’s will
One death-seeking, one life-giving
History tells us that King Herod eventually died after suffering for a long period of time from an excruciating illness. Seems fitting for a man that was so sadistic and wicked. A man who opposed God at every turn and instead considered himself a god.
While Herod was obviously an extreme case, I can relate to the part about trying to control my own life and, at times, even the lives of those around me. This Christmas season, may we all ponder how we can be more like Jesus and less like a self-centered, self-seeking king. I pray that we all can put aside our differences and love those difficult family members with a love that reflects the heart of God. I pray that we can forget past hurts, overlook petty offenses, and “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). I pray that we would let love rule in our hearts and that we would show the same forgiveness to others that God has given to us through his son, the one and only perfect King: Jesus Christ. May we reflect him well to a lost and hopeless world this Christmas season.
Amen.