Todd's Blog

Monday, August 1, 2011

Love or Lust by Todd Pierce

Love and Lust!

I have never been one to title a message, but because this holds a bit of a shock factor, I thought I might as well. I have had a conviction about how I live my life that has revolved around these two words. It has been based on these definitions: Love is the desire to give at your expense and lust desires to gain at another's expense. I have found that I have a real tendency to lust people and consequently undermine what my real desire is. I'll put it this way - my heart's desire is to bring joy to our Father. I know that the thing that brings him the most joy is for me to genuinely love people. So I must continually consider how I deal with the people around me. Even though this seems simple, I will give you an example of how we can easily miss the mark.

As an evangelist, I have a burning desire to see people come into the Kingdom. Because of this gifting and passion I can get a vision for a way to reach the masses and consequently get so caught up in the vision that I begin to look around for people to lust so I can accomplish the end goal. I suppose it is the old mentality that an end can justify the means. In our Father's Kingdom, this is not so. As a son of God, I must continue to fight the temptation to use people so I can do what I think I have been commissioned to do. Confused? Here is my point:

I have struggled for many years on how to do ministry and specifically how to build a financial team so the work can get done. I have resisted talking about finances because I have been so concerned about becoming the guy who thinks the people in his life should financially support his vision. I tell you all this because I want to make sure that you know the struggles I have with this issue and that you know that I want to continue to love you as someone I have the privilege to serve without expecting a thing. I believe this is the way Jesus lived. He said he came to serve and not be served.

With all that said, though, I also believe I have a responsibility before the Father as a steward of enormous opportunity to make sure the people around me know the needs. Therefore, I am stepping out to do so by sharing with you that we have committed to do two Faith Nights this fall that will cost us approximately $50,000.00. Please consider if this is something our Father would have you get behind or consider if someone you know would perhaps like to be a part of these great harvests. Learn more about Faith Nights at

http://www.ridinghighministries.org/site/faithnights.php

Also, please consider the people in your life. Are you loving them or lusting them?

In service of the King, Todd Pierce www.ridinghighministries.org

Labels: , , , , ,


content decoration