Would I rather,

Be uncertain about what I’ll eat, drink, wear or even what I’ll be doing from moment to moment,

but have God?

-OR-

Have so much money that I am certain about the provision of my every material need and desire,

but be without God?

This question is repeatedly posed in the Bible in some form, I believe, because it is a question that we are repeatedly confronted with in our daily lives. Could it be THE question of this life? This question reveals so much about our perceptions (e.g. what is good, truth) and our priorities (e.g. what we really want).

If I be honest, I’ve pursued things so that I wouldn’t have to trust God anymore. And, I’ve gone in circles (not getting anywhere) in some respects in my life because I hadn’t made up my mind about this question and hadn’t made a decision about which master I would serve.

Yes, the question is purposefully asked in a binary choice format to pose a clear dilemma, but is it necessarily a false dichotomy?

Consider this:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
— 1 John 2:15

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'”
— Matthew 19:21-24

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
— Luke 16:13

I’m living in Psalm 73 right now,

“A Psalm of Asaph.

Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.

Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.

They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.

Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

And they say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”

Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.

Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.

For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.

If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me— Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.

Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

They are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.

Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.”
— Psalm 73

I find it interesting that this Psalm begins with God is good to such that are “pure in heart” and the parallel to Matthew 5:8,
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

A dear brother, Tim Boden, once shared that “pure in heart” is about singularness of mind, undivided affections.

It brings to mind a verse God has burned on my heart for the past two years,

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
— Luke 16:11

I believe the “true riches” is God, true knowledge of Him that affords us the enjoyment of the things of God, including fellowship with those who belong to Him.

It brings to mind John 2:23-25,

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.

But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,

and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.”
— John 2:23-25

Could it be that I have not yet laid hold off the true riches because I still have harlotry in my heart, lusting for anything besides Him making it improper for Him to commit Himself to me?

The question before me is, “Would You Rather Have Life With God Or Control And Certainty?”

“Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.”
— Psalm 73:25

This is where I want to be. Help me, Lord Jesus.