DEVOTION – DAY 137

Psalm 84:10 “Choosing God Over Worldly Desires”

Psa.84:10 “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

In Old Testament times, one of the normal and most humble duties in the temple in Jerusalem was to serve as a doorkeeper. The Psalmist said in this verse that he would rather serve as a doorkeeper for one day in God’s temple than choose to pass his time and enjoy life with people who were opposed to God. The psalmist values the privileges he had as one of God’s people and he would not want to exchange it for anything the world had to offer. The psalmist knew that even if what the world had to offer him seemed attractive, it couldn’t compare with remaining as one of God’s people.

Sadly, many people today choose to live for the present. Many people choose to “dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Tents by its very nature are not permanent structures. The word is used to remind us that those who seek to live their lives apart from God, and follow the ways of the world, are people that want to live for what this world has to offer – and it will only satisfy us temporarily. It will not last. We will become dissatisfied and disappointed. But people who choose to be God’s people will never be disappointed or dissatisfied because God’s abundant blessings are eternal.

A friend who runs a business was invited to take part in an open tender for a large contract. He was told that his company was one of five companies shortlisted to tender for the job. In order to prepare for the tender, he spent some time to gather information about the requirements from the potential client’s employee. He soon realized that the client’s employee was open to bribery. If he was willing to offer a generous bribe, the potential client’s employee would give him certain details that would enable him to submit a very competitive tender. The employee even suggested that he would help recommend my friend’s company to be awarded the contract if he was suitably “rewarded”. My friend faced a dilemma. To be sure he was awarded the contract, he would have to give a big bribe to his potential client’s employee. That would mean he chose to dwell “in the tents of the wicked”. He decided he would not do so. He submitted a tender bid and just trusted the matter in the hands of God. His company did not win the large contract. He would rather forgo the present rewards of getting the large contract and not sin against God and trust that God would provide him enough to keep his business going. Today, he is able to say that his business is still making sufficient profits for him to raise his family. His conscience is clear as he never gives bribes to get jobs.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, please help us all to keep our eyes focused on you and your kingdom and values and not be tempted by the things of this world that draws us away from you. Keep us close to you. In the great name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Questions

1. Why do people choose to live for the present and go after things of this world and not follow God and His ways? Discuss.
2. What are some desirable things that can cause you to stray from God?
3. Once you have obtained things you have desired, do you become satisfied or are you bored and disappointed later? Discuss.
4. How can you help each other to choose God and not things of this world whenever you find yourself in situations of conflict? Discuss.