Hungry for God: This World Is Not Enough

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, ‘All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me”—Matthew 4:8-9.

It’s unbelievable that Satan has the ability to give us the world, and he does—but with a steep and incalculable price—your worship. You may not think your worship is that much, but it's more valuable than anything else you have to offer. It’s the most intimate thing your soul can ever offer, and it was to be given to one Being—God, and to Him alone. No other being in the universe deserves your worship—it is meant for God alone.

Satan will offer anything to you to get your worship. He is good at making promises, but not good at keeping them. Remember, he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), so don’t be surprised that no sooner than he gets your worship, he leaves you in the dust. But what if he did give you the whole world? Is it worth it? No. A thousand times, no. As Jesus said,

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?”—Mark 8:36-38.

Jesus’ question is rhetorical—nothing is worth more than our soul. There is nothing that we can receive in this world that could come close to being worth the price of our soul. Our soul was made for God and we will find no rest until we come to Him and give Him our worship. He desires it, because He desires what is best for us, which is, of course, Himself.

Worship is serious business, which is why the apostles freaked out so badly when people started to worship them. Consider Acts 14, when Paul and Barnabas made a crippled man walk. The people were so amazed that they called them gods (cf. Acts 14:11) and wanted to make sacrifices to them (cf. 14:13), but Paul and Barnabas ran into the midst of the crowd, tearing their clothes and crying out,

“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them”—Acts 14:15.

Or consider the apostle John; while he was receiving his revelations, he turned to worship the angel, who replied,

“You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God”—Revelation 22:9.

Worship God. Possessing this world means nothing in the end. It’s not enough for the price of your soul. Worship the God who is, was, and ever will be—Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior of the world. Amen.