Growing up in Sunday School, I heard this little tune a lot. Being a child, I knew what it meant in a small measure. Now that I’m older, I have a better understanding for these simple words.
Not too long ago, I was on a “road trip” by myself to my hometown in Ohio. I had some music playing in my car. I was in my own little world. Having a great love and appreciation for music, I thanked God for it. At that moment, something popped up in my mind, “How often does the music we listen to worship and glorify someone other than God?” Because really,that’s what music was created for. The reason why worship is so powerful is because it resonates in us to glorify God in our music. Music was created for our pleasure and God’s glory. We like it, so does He. Now please understand, worship is a lifestyle, not just part of a church service.
Another time before that encounter, I was in my car. I spend a lot of time in my car. I was listening to some of my tunes and the song “Yellow” by Coldplay came on. This is probably one of my favorite secular songs ever. “Look at the stars and how they shine for you.” God was showing me His love through that song. As girly and cheesy as it sounds, it was like that song was written to me by God. It was a close encounter of the God-kind. God made all things for us to enjoy. I enjoyed that moment and I praised Him for that. A good love song can be relatable both to human and heavenly relationships. To me, that song definitely qualifies.
At work, just the other day, I was singing a song you may or may not know. “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve. “It’s a bittersweet symphony this life. Try to make ends meet, you’re a slave to the money then you die.” I’ve heard this song many times before I rededicated my life to Christ. As soon as I began to realize what this song was saying, I stopped singing it. This is not the life a Christian is supposed to live! No! He called me to have an abundant life. If you pay attention to what you hear, it gets in your heart. What’s in your heart comes out.
“Faith comes by hearing…” so what is it you are hearing and therefore putting your faith in? What are you listening to? Is it building you up, glorifying God, causing you to be closer to Him? Or is it demeaning the value of life God created for you to have? Or maybe it’s just worshiping something other than Christ.
I challenge you to pray and ask God to reveal to you the things that are not good for you to listen to, whether it be music, movies, comedians, your friends, whatever. May you be strong and wise enough to put God’s things first and to be careful what you hear for… “your Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful, little ears, what you hear.”