Four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Lecrae knows how easy it is to let idols dominate our lives.
“So let me tell y’all how patient God is with me. So, like, I’m gonna lose some weight, and then I get on my weight plan and my diet and my gym membership, and I’m feeling good about it,” Lecrae explained in a video he posted on Instagram. “And then I’m talking to my wife about us raising the kids and just our plans and generational wealth and parenting, and we have a great meeting. Talk to the financial advisor. Boom, feeling good about it.”
But the Christian rapper soon began to realize that he had taken good things and made them God things.
“…here’s the thing: all of that’s great — health, finances, parenting — great things. But then I get into my devotional. You know, Jesus talking about seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. And I realize all these great things have become the thing,” Lecrae admitted. “Like in my mind, I said to myself, if I get these things right, I did my job on this earth. If I get my finances, my health, my parenting right, I did my job, and I’ve subtly replaced God’s kingdom with my own kingdom.”
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He continued: “I’ve subtly told myself my goal in life is to check these boxes, and then I’m good. I have not said, ‘God, what do you want to do with my life?’ I haven’t said, ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done.’ I’ve said, ‘My kingdom come, and You can work Your will around it.’ I need to ask God, ‘Man, how can my wealth be used for Your kingdom? How can my parenting be used for Your kingdom? How can my health be used for Your kingdom?'”
“When you die, and you stand before God, are you gonna be like, ‘Yeah, pat myself on the back for saving money and having a six-pack?’ But God’s patience with me. Thank you, Lord,” he concluded.
Lecrae’s experience echoes Jesus’ conversation with the rich young ruler found in Matthew 19:16-22.
When the rich young ruler asks Jesus, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus responds by saying, “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” The young ruler says he has kept all the commandments, asking, “What do I still lack?”
Jesus responds, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
“When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions,” verse 22 concludes.
Just like the rich young ruler, if we keep on trusting in things other than Jesus, we will miss eternal life and the purpose that He has for us.
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