The Better Offer

There is an intriguing passage in Judges 17-18 which speaks of Micah, his idols, and priest.  One of the best and useful sermons I have ever heard was drawn out of this passage by Paris Reidhead titled, "10 Shekels and a Shirt."  Micah hired a Levite to become the priest over his household.  The Levite was pleased with the terms offered him and agreed to serve Micah - that is, until he received a better offer!  When men from the tribe of Dan came with a hidden purpose to steal Micah's ephod and idols, the Levite who posed as a priest confronted them.  They said, "Why don't you come with us?  At the moment you are only priest over a household:  wouldn't it be better for you to be priest over an entire tribe?"  Judges 18:20 reveals his response:  "So the priest's heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people."  Like many people, the Levite was only loyal until a better offer came along.

I wonder how many people decide to serve Christ because they see Him as a better offer than what the world initially provided.  The trouble is, the devil is like the Godfather who knows how to make offers men can't refuse.  Everyone who makes a deal with him ends up dying in the end!  Loyal Christians remain faithful to Christ not because He has given them a "better offer," but because only in Him is found forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.  Jesus told a parable in Matthew 20 which set forth a scenario involving a vineyard owner seeking labourers.  He promised to give the willing workers "what was right," fair wages for a day's work.  At the end of the day, all the workers lined up who had been hired to receive their wages.  We are like the workers the vineyard owner has recruited to serve in His vineyard for wages.  Jesus says if we will believe in Him we will receive eternal life.  Those who worked through the whole day received exactly what the master had promised.

Now imagine you are one of those workers in the vineyard.  Just after lunch as you are toiling away, a well-dressed man in a suit walks up to you.  "Working hard, I see?" he says with a wry smile.  "You're working your hands to the bone for what, a denarius?  I think you're worth a bit more than that."  The work is hard and tiring, so he has your attention.  He continues:  "Tell you what:  you come over and work for me, and I'll put you in charge as a foreman and triple your wage."  As you think it over, something doesn't seem right.  The backstory is you have never in your life made a denarius a day.  In fact, you've never had a paying job!  In addition, the master of the vineyard actually paid the fee to free you from life imprisonment for grave crimes.  He invited you to work for him, and you were grateful for the opportunity.  As you stand up, stretch your back, and wipe the sweat from your brow, you see the man nod and smile.  "So?  What will it be?  What's your decision?"  Now what do you do?

If you made the choice to leave the vineyard and follow the well-dressed man, it would be the most regrettable decision of your life.  It's true he paid well - for a while - but in the end you ended up being in greater debt than when you began.  You found yourself back on death row before long, alone and full of regret:  why did you walk away from the vineyard that day?  No offer this world can offer us is better than what God offers.  He gives us what is right by His grace.  What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your own soul?  Only Christ has the words of life, for He is the Way, Truth, and Life.  The devil's offers may seem good initially, but his forked tongue only speaks lies.  Too many people have laid down their souls as collateral to pursue their desires, and it is a decision they will regret for eternity.

Following and serving Christ is not the easy way, but it is the best way.  It is a good way.  Psalm 16:11  says of our God:  "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  Money cannot provide life, fullness of joy, or lasting sweetness.  Jesus freely offers all these things if we will repent and trust in Him.  Let us choose this day whom we will serve.  The scriptures teach us following God is the wise choice.  Choose to stay faithful to our God, no matter what other offers may come along.