Would you rather?
Have you ever been at a party or an event and played, ‘Would you rather?’ It’s a simple idea where the player is presented with two options, and they have to choose their preference.
They can reveal surprising things about the participant, as they cause them to think about what they believe or value.
Some can be fun or silly, such as, ‘Would you rather team up with Batman or Superman?’ or ‘Would you rather have a third nipple or an extra toe?’
Whilst others probe a little deeper: ‘Would you rather die in 20 years with no regrets or live to 100 with a lot of regrets?’ or ‘Would you rather solve world hunger or global warming?’
I recently came across a version of this in the Bible, in Psalm 84…
“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”
This verse comes near the end of the Psalm, which is a prayer of longing to be in God’s Temple in Jerusalem. It is believed that the author was unable to be there, due to an enemy invasion of the city.
Back then, the Temple in Jerusalem was seen as being the place where God dwelt, in other words, it was His address on earth and the author desperately wanted to be back in God’s presence!
A doorkeeper was a humble job, serving in the Temple. But when faced with the choice of being there or being amongst the enemy, who did not serve God, the author would much rather be in God’s ‘house’, as that was better.
Today, we don’t have to go to a specific place to find God, as by His Spirit, he is everywhere. However, I believe we still have a choice…
Do we choose to live with God or without Him? Do we welcome Him into our lives and live with the love, security and blessing of God dwelling with us 24/7? Let me put it like this, ‘Would you rather do life with God or without Him?’
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader