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Loving Him Above All Else – A Deeper Look Into the Word

I chose these two passages of Scripture because the heart of the Old Testament Prophet, Habakkuk, and the heart of the New Testament Apostle, Paul, both, bear the same seal, beat the same rhythmic pulse, are secure in the same revelation. What is this profound revelation? What is this same secret of contentment in any and all circumstances? It is in loving God above all else – period . . . nothing more, nothing less.

Let’s look into the hearts of these two men born centuries apart but loving God to the point of absolute trust in His sovereignty despite the circumstances in which they found themselves.

The Heart of the Prophet:

In the beginning chapters of Habakkuk, we find this prophet wrestling with the perplexities of God’s ways. He struggles to comprehend how God could use the wicked Babylonians to execute judgment on Israel, a people more righteous than they! Even though Habakkuk finds some comfort in the assurance that eventually the Babylonian destroyers will in turn be destroyed, the impending judgment against Israel at the hands of the Babylonians made him physically ill (Hab.3:16).

After all Habakkuk’s outspoken questioning, his deeply grounded faith in the sovereign workings of God gave rise to his incredible declaration in Habakkuk 3:17-19 (see above). Regardless of circumstances – even in the face of devastating suffering and loss – he could rejoice and find strength in the Lord. How could this response be possible? It was because he knew his God and he trusted in God’s faithfulness.

Habakkuk was a man of vigorous faith. As a prophet of God and man of faith, he knew the history of his people. He held within his heart the word of God concerning them. God had called the children of Israel His treasured possession and made a covenant of love with them to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments (Deut. 7:6, 9). God also said He had betrothed Israel to Himself forever (Hosea 2:19,20). Habakkuk was confident that God would be faithful to the covenant of love He had made with His people.

The Heart of the Apostle:

Philippians was written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. This was not the first time he had found himself under arrest. Paul suffered much for the sake of the gospel. He was whipped five times of thirty-nine lashes; three times beaten with rods; stoned once; shipwrecked three times spending a day and night in the open sea; kept constantly on the move; endangered from rivers, bandits, his own countrymen and the Gentiles; labored and toiled going often without sleep; knew hunger and thirst, having often gone without food; been cold and naked; and besides everything else carried the burden and daily pressure of overseeing all the churches (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).

Paul endured harsh conditions and great suffering. Yet regardless of how the circumstantial pendulum swung, enduring the daily grind of his circumstances did not diminish or defeat Paul. He wrote in Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. He had an unwavering, unshakable confidence in the love of God. He declared that neither trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, nor sword, not even death or life, angels or demons, the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, not anything else in all creation could separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35, 37-39).

Loving God above all else:

Habakkuk and Paul walked in daily communion with God. They spoke to Him and expected to get answers to their questions. They were secure in His love for them, because they had become intimately acquainted with Him. In other words, they had come to know God. As they grew to know Him, they also grew to love Him.

Loving God above all else progressively becomes deeper, richer, and fuller as one’s love relationship with God matures.

The Prophet and Apostle loved God, Himself, more than they loved the blessings associated with God. Therefore, when the circumstances were at their worst, they could still rejoice, finding joy and strength in Him. Even in the seasons when there were no comfortable fringe benefits evident in doing the will of God, they needed nothing more and nothing less than the Lover of their soul to be joyful in their existence and content in whatever state they found themselves. Simply loving the Lord was sufficient in and of itself to make their lives complete. Whatever God asked of them, whatever the task, whatever the cost, it was their delight and joy to do His will. They loved the Lord above all else. Therefore, their trust in God was bedrock deep and unshakable.

SPIRITUAL INSIGHT:

Do I love Him above all else? This is a question we must each ask ourselves, and it is a question that only we can answer for ourselves. How we respond to the situations in our lives provides an accurate indication of what lies within our hearts. Take a few minutes to evaluate your response to your current circumstances as compared to Habakkuk and Paul. In what and in whom does your contentment lie?

PRAYER:

Holy Spirit, I ask you to examine me. I want to love the Lord with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. I give you permission to reveal the true state of my heart and to correct any area that is hindering me from loving the Lord above all else. Amen.

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