Few prayers are more dangerous than “God, give me what I want”—especially when what you want looks strong, secure, and respectable. In 1 Samuel 8, Israel asks for a crown “like all the nations,” rejecting the King already among them, and God grants the request—setting in motion a search that turns from outward stature to the hidden allegiance of the heart.
When we struggle to translate from one language to another, we’re painfully reminded of the problems coming from the Tower of Babel. But do we remember the temptation of that situation, one that plays to our own ambitions still today?
We think, “If only I had enough money, my life would change forever,” yet even a life-altering jackpot can’t easily eliminate the old self. Romans 6:10 tells us the death Christ died, He died to sin once for all, but the life He lives, He lives to God.