Feeling More Important to God

 I believe we are all susceptible to the error of thinking that we are more important to God than someone else. This can also be true of how countries and groups, like churches, feel about themselves. A preacher might think he is more important to God than other members of the church because he preaches and shepherds the flock. That is never true. A church might feel like it is more important to God than another church, because it is a larger congregation, which is not true. A country like Israel or the United States might feel more important to God, too, but God says they are not.

This is how the Israelites were feeling in the days that Amos we prophesying to them. God had to set them straight. (Amos 9:7) "Are you Israelites more important to Me than the Ethiopians?" asks the Lord. "I brought Israel out of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Crete and led the Arameans out of Kir." I think there is a lesson for us here from several angles. Let's try to explore what God means here, so we can understand and apply it in our lives.

Yes, the descendants of Abraham are God's chosen people. He chose them, so that He could work through them, and He is going to continue to use them until the end of time. His desire was for them to worship Him and obey Him, so other nations would come to know Him, too. They failed to do that over and over, but God has not totally cast them away. However, all nations and people groups are important to God. He desires for all to be saved and to know Him. Therefore, no person or group should succumb to pride and think they are more important to God than any other nation.

The same goes for us, as Christians. We must not think that we are more important to God than others. We must realize that God is working in other groups of people and even other religious groups to try to bring them to Himself. There is no one who matters less to God or more to God than others. God loves everyone, and He wants what is best for everyone. As Christians, we must make sure we are especially humble, so God can use us to lead others to Him. We must not ever reject another person or group because we don't think they are as important to God as we are. Let's learn this lesson well.

Tomorrow, I intend to read Obadiah 1 and Jonah 1-2.