Are you a selfish person? By selfish I mean you are motivated to do things that pertain only to you? I think all of us have a little selfishness within us. I remember once when I was just out of Bible College that I was selfish. I was at my first church of service. The first Sunday I was there we a total of 18 people, and that included myself and 3 friends that came with me, the pastor and his wife and 3 children. If I do the math, 9 of the 18 people there were from the minister and his family, and myself, the new Music minister, and my 3 friend, so there were only 9 other church members there. A little over a year later, the church was averaging over 100 in attendance. I had 20 in my Adult choir, plus I had more than 20 in my youth department. That first Sunday there I didn’t have enough for a choir, and the only youth were there were the preteen children of the pastor.

Needless to say, a year later, I thought was the best thing since Billy Graham! I was getting calls every where around there wanting me to lead the music for their revivals. I took many of those revivals. There  was so much traveling that I said, “LOOK AT ME, I’M GOOD AT THIS, AND I’M THE REASON THIS CHURCH HAS GROWN SO FAST!” I put myself on a cloud or something, and I thought I was the best thing that ever served the Lord. So much so that I told God (not ask) that I needed a new customized van to travel in! I was just 21 years old then! Guess what, I went out and bought that NEW customized van in May of that year, and in September of that year, I totaled that NEW customized van and nearly killed myself. I was enroot to a destination of service, and it was early morning (before day light). I remember that I had just passed a car, and pulled back into my lane, when there were 3 Black Cows in the middle of the road! I swerve to miss them and I did miss 2 of them, but the 3rd and biggest one I planted in the side door of that van turning over sideways first and then it flipped end over end, throwing me out of the van. Seatbelts were not mandatory back then, so I wasn’t buckled up. It knocked me out, and when I came too, there was a lady standing over me praying for me. She was in the car I had just passed, and she said that she was an Assembly of God Preacher. I was hurt badly, and cripple up for the next 8 months.

I told you that because I wanted you to see what can happen if you do your will instead of God’s will. Ex 20:4-6 (4) "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God , punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
NIV

I know that this happened to me because I took the credit for what God did through me. Going 8 months without being able to do anything was a lesson learned the hard way. I had plenty of time to reflect on things, and knowing that God is a Jealous God became a lesson well learned.

Selfishness makes us put ourselves before God, and takes away from His honor, and reaps His punishment. I have been careful since that time NOT to take credit for the things God does through me. In today’s age of people seeking riches, and prestige, we tend to put many things before God. The old saying “The love of money is the root of evil,” comes back to hurt us. But, it isn’t just money that comes before God. Anything that we treasure above God, becomes an idol against Him. Pleasure and entertainment has taken the place of God these days. Also, any material thing can become an Idol before God.

Ex 34:14
 14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God .
NIV

When the Children of Israel were about to cross over to the PROMISED LAND, Moses said this to them, because he knew God wouldn't let him go with them into that land.

Deut 4:22-24
22 I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
NIV

The Children of Israel had already wondered in the wilderness for 40 years because they had made idols of gold as the Egyptians had before Moses led them out of Egypt. Moses was warning them not to put anything before God because God is a Jealous God. Today, there are many things that we put before God! Everyone has things that they love, and God uses these things to minister for Him, but sometimes we may take these things a step too far. When these things become more important in our lives than God, we have gone too far. We know from the ten commandment, forward, that God is a Jealous God, and doesn’t allow this! Sometimes we are so caught up in our God given talents, that we make these talents more important than God. This IS NOT A GOOD THING! I know from my experience at the first church I ever served. I learned a lesson the hard way.

Even in a ministry, as I have given myself as an example, we can take too much credit from God, that it makes Him jealous. He has led me into making Cds of me singing, but, if I get so caught up in singing that I have self praise it becomes an Idol before God. God will punishment for that! God gave me the talent I have in the first place, otherwise I couldn’t sing. After the accident, I had a hard time accepting praise for my singing! When you have to learn a lesson from God the hard way, it sticks! When people give me praise for my singing, I always say, “It isn’t me, but it’s God singing through me.”

Moses made Joshua the head of the Children of Israel, and Joshua told the Children of Israel what would happen if they strayed away from God.

Josh 24:19
19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. NIV

I love to sing, and I now love writing messages that God gives me, but I have to guard my reasoning in what I do, and never allow them to come before God. If I serve Him, and not my selfishness, everything is OK. I love the Lord with all my heart and soul, and His gospel comes before anything else that I do. This was a hard one because it hits so close to home. I pray it speaks to others here also. There is so much talent here, and people singing songs and writing blogs, just remember not to allow anything to come before God. I have known people that buy new boats, and puts fishing and pleasures ahead of God. I pray that they don’t become their CUSTOMIZED VAN!    

In Christ’s Name,
Rev. Zack Martin Sr.