People, possessions and pursuits

Ezekiel is a prophet. People come to a prophet to consult him and inquire about God. Which is what the elders in Ezekiel 14 do. But God is not pleased. He knows what’s in their hearts and he knows they have no intention of changing.

Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?  Ezekiel 14:3

Why should God bother trying to communicate with these men at all? He needs to show them the consequences of their actions so that all the people can see and turn away from the idols in their lives.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.  Ezekiel 14:8

And so if the prophet is enticed to speak to these men, when God has instructed him not to, then God will punish him.

And this is the aim.

They will be my people, and I will be their God.  Ezekiel 14:10

This is always the aim.

God’s people have been unfaithful to Him. No one will escape His judgement. No one at all. Well, except Noah, Daniel and Job – a weird choice of righteous men! What about the more obvious ones like Abraham and Moses and David? And we haven’t even got to the Book of Daniel yet – that comes next – so does God mean Daniel or as my Bible suggests ‘Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature’, which is even more weird because he’s not even mentioned in the Bible and is not a key player in the story of God’s people.

So personal righteousness is the only thing that can save – total trust and obedience in the God. Not playing at it by going along with the rituals but then having idols in your heart and life that create stumbling blocks to living as God intended.

That phrase is repeated three times in this chapter. It’s a good one to describe what can go on in our lives.

these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces…

People, possessions or pursuits can take a hold of our hearts.

People, possessions or pursuits can get in the way of our relationship with God.

People, possessions or pursuits can become the most important thing in our lives. More important even than God.

People, possessions or pursuits can lead us to make poor choices and to do the wrong thing.

People, possessions or pursuits can lead us away from God rather than toward God.

People, possessions or pursuits can cause us to abandon our faith.

It’s all about our relationship with God. What gets in the way. What causes us to be unfaithful to God. What leads us astray.

When another person becomes the most important thing in our world.

A partner we would do anything to keep. A child we would do anything for. A friend we would do anything to stay friends with. A boss we would do anything to impress.

When a possession becomes the most important thing in our world.

That thing we desire more than anything in the whole world right now. That phone, that handbag, that car, that ring. That thing we would give anything to have. That thing we care for more than life itself. That thing that we cannot be without.

When a pursuit becomes the most important thing in our world.

When an activity takes over our whole life. When there is no time for anything else or anyone else. When it’s the only thing that matters in our world. When it’s all we can think about. When we’re prepared to sacrifice all other relationships to make time for this activity alone.

And where is God in all this? How do we find time for God? How do we have the energy and space to maintain relationship with Him? And what happens when we’re called upon to cut corners in terms of integrity and honesty and respect and love for others to get what we want? Are we hoping God is looking the other way at that point?

Because God is never looking the other way.

It’s good to have people and possessions and pursuits that we care about. Of course it is. God wants us to enjoy life and live it to the full. He wants us to do our best and give of our best.

It’s all about perspective though, isn’t it? About what matters most. About keeping God at the centre of it all. About holding loosely to what we have. Enjoying it all and showing gratitude for it all but never making him or her or it the most important thing.

 Then you will know that I am the Lord.