Why do you follow God? What reason and motivation do you have for choosing to serve the Lord? The truth is it is very important to know the why behind your faith. The reason you have for believing shows whether or not you are following the truth and if you are in proper alignment with the Bible. The sad truth is that there are many people today who are following God for all the wrong reasons.
Scripture gives us a peek into a group that followed Jesus for the wrong reason. After feeding a multitude He had gone on to the other side of the sea and the group chased after Him. Finally, they caught up to Him on the other side, but they did not get the reception they must have expected. Jesus plainly told them they were following after Him for the wrong reasons.
John 6:26 (ESV)
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
Instead of following Jesus because they saw the miracles and realized that He was the messiah. They followed Him because He fed them and they hoped that He would continue to provide for them. They failed to see that what Jesus had to offer the world was far greater than perishable things like bread and fish. He came with the keys of heaven looking to grant eternal life yet they were too focused on this life.
Modern Christians are no different than those who followed after Jesus thousands of years ago. We too get caught up in chasing after the things of this world. Hoping that God will provide us with all our wants and desires. We focus on food, wealth, health, and even the extension of this life but fail to see that all these things are perishable.
For many, the unwarranted expectation of those things becomes the reason they serve God. But Christians must realize that we should not be following after the Lord in hopes of things that are perishable. Instead, we need to embrace the same teaching that Jesus gave them and work to obtain that which is never going to perish but will last into eternity.
John 6:27 (ESV)
27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
God cares for us and loves us. The word does tell us that He will provide for our needs because He knows exactly what we need. But we must realize that this provision on earth is not the reason to follow God. Because while the word says He will provide what we need scripture at no point says life will be easy for Christians.
In fact, the Bible is actually quite clear in saying that the Christian life will be challenging. Even saying that we should embrace the troubles we face. Because they can’t compare to the glory of Heaven.
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
1 Peter 4:12 (ESV)
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
James 1:2 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
That real reason we follow after God is first because of who He is. God created all things seen and unseen. The God of the Bible is the creator of the universe and everything in it. The very same God that created everything also has given us a promise. One that says all those who place their faith in Him will not die but will receive eternal life in heaven.
Colossians 1:6 (ESV)
6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Those are the reasons every Christian should follow after God. Not because they have hopes for great things in this life. But because they know who He is and what He has promised. If your faith in God hinges on what you are able to obtain in this life or even what you hope God will do for you. Then you have missed so much in the Bible.
Jesus himself lived a life of poverty and service. Christ had the right to expect everything yet chose to humble himself and expect to receive nothing. Every Christian should have the same humble attitude that our Lord and Savior did.
Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Not only that but His word is quite clear in warning those who look to store up treasure on earth. Jesus tells us how perishable the things of this world are. Making it clear that His followers focus should be not on the thing of the world but on the things of Heaven. Which shows that worldly possessions are not a reason to follow Him.
Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Even health and long life is not a reason to follow the Lord. Our bodies are just as perishable as anything else. It’s our eternal life that we must work towards not worrying about what will happen with this earthy body. This body is only our temporary home and we should long for the day we will receive our new body in Heaven. One made by God.
2 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV)
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
What are your reasons for following God? Have you given your life to Him because of what you hope He can provide for you in this life? Or is your focus on who He is and the promise of Heaven? Scripture makes it clear why we should follow the Lord and it does not have to do with anything we can receive on earth.
It’s so important you realize the real reasons to follow God now before times get tough. Before your expectations crash into reality and you don’t receive all you thought you would.
Those who follow after Christ for provision will walk away like many did when Jesus told the multitude that they followed Him for the wrong reason. But those following Christ for the right reasons will remain just like the apostles who knew the truth did and they will be blessed with eternal life.
John 6:66–69 (ESV)
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
Don’t be mislead by the many false teachers in the world today. Know that we do not follow the Lord in the hopes of health, wealth, and prosperity in this life. God can definitely bless His followers with those. But those things are never promised on earth. However, Christians are promised those and so much more when they pass into Heaven.
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