We, humans, are hardwired to have causes to fight for. Science claims that those who perceive meaning in their lives or jobs are happier and more productive than those who find no significance in how they spend their lives. But we don’t even need science to tell us that. You and I already know all this. Like I said, it’s innate.
However, despite the many great causes that we're all dedicated to, allow me to say something that might be unpopular. All other causes, no matter how noble, are lesser. There’s no greater cause than the Gospel. Absolutely none.
You ask why? Well, the Gospel is a matter of life and death. True, real, eternal life and eternal death. Jesus warns us not to fear those who can destroy our bodies, but rather Him who can destroy our souls (Matt 10:28).
If I fight the poverty of the body but neglect the poverty of the soul, then I’ve barely done anything. If I loosen the physical chains but ignore the spiritual bondage and torment, what’s the point?
Being dedicated to any cause other than God’s cause is like adorning ourselves with the finest clothes and shiny jewels on our way to death. You don’t believe me? Look at this:
The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever (1 John 2:17).
If we think about it, there’s no point in being dedicated to anything else if we are not first dedicated to God and His cause. It’s simple math. He is the one who gives anything meaning. So, He must come first, or else what we do without Him is meaningless. Or else, when it’s all said and done, all we have done apart from God wastes away along with us.
Don’t hear what I’m not saying. If you are out there fighting poverty, inequality, and more, I’m not saying you should stop. But I want us to realize this: That desire for rightness or fairness that moves us to fight injustice is God-given. Why? Because He is just, good, merciful, and loving. He cares about us and the people we fight for more than we can. And if that’s the case, and it is, don’t you think we are better off going about our causes God's way?
After all, He is the God who comes so that we can have life in abundance (John 10:10), and abundant life goes far beyond the physical body.
Once, they brought a paralytic to Jesus, but before Jesus healed paralysis, He healed the soul: He forgave the man’s sins (Matt 9:2-8). Many people were confused and unimpressed when Jesus forgave sins before healing bodily sickness as if healing the body was a bigger deal than healing the soul. It's just like we do every day. Being too focused on fixing the outside while the inside rots.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying that sickness is okay. It’s not, and it’s not God’s will. Again, Jesus came so that we may have abundant life, and sickness is not abundance. Get this right though: if we are making a list of priorities, the soul comes before the body.
But of course, we quickly find out that when our spirits are transformed, so does our bodies. Inward transformation flows to the outside, but not the other way around. We can’t work our way to salvation or even significance. Our good works and causes are in vain if they are not initiated and sustained by God, the author and perfecter of our inward transformation.
So, you and I want a worthy cause, right? Here’s one: Take up the cause of the Most High King. And trust me, when we do, He will give us much more to do and live for. Want a sneak peek? Here you go: “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give’ (Matt 10:7-8). How about that for a cause to live and die for?
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