Where Do Your Affections Lie?

I once heard worship defined as, “ the object or person on which your affection lies.” Does your affection lie with the Great I AM, the Creator God or is it resting on something or someone else. Over the past couple of years I’ve learned a few ‘litmus’ tests to discover where your affection lies. I’d like to share them with you and I hope that you consider where your affection is placed because Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.”
(Mk. 12.30)

1. Where and on what do you spend your free time? Do you spend your free time doing things that have kingdom value? Are you using your time wisely or do you simply waste away in front of the tv or computer? This is not to say that television or computer play is bad. Just check yourself in how much of your free is spent doing this or something of spiritual significance.

2. Where and on what do you spend your money? Is it easy for you to give freely? In case I haven’t meddled enough, the things you spend your money on can tell you a lot about your affection. Do you constantly spend money on yourself and those who are closest to you? Do you use funds to share with ‘the least’, ‘the poor’, or those who aren’t in your circle of friends? Do you spend more money accessorizing (home, vehicle, self) then you do on kingdom business?

3. Where are your thoughts concentrated? Do your thoughts center on worrying about “what ifs”? Are you constantly thinking about someone, so that they become an obsession (husband, children, parents, etc.)? What do you day dream about?

Our Father is seeking true, spiritual worshipers (Jn. 4.23 emphasis added). He desires the “valentine” of your heart rather than mere lip service. I’ll leave you with the words of Paul found in Romans 12.1-2:

I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.