3 Areas Where You Probably Choose Herod Over Jesus

One of the titles that Matthew gives Jesus in his first couple of chapters is “King of the Jews.” The irony is that the Roman senate gave that exact title to Herod a few decades before Jesus was born. As far as Rome was concerned, Herod was King of the Jews. But when some foreign astrologers look right at Herod and ask where the King of the Jews could be found, Matthew’s readers had to have known that something was about to go down.

When Herod asks the Magi to let him know where they find Jesus, the Magi find themselves in an awkward position. Later on, a dream reveals to them that Herod has bad intentions. What the Magi must do now is make a choice. Obey the most powerful man in the region, or pledge their allegiance to a child. Don’t think it was an easy decision. Herod certainly had the power to track down the Magi and have them punished for defying him. A child doesn’t seem to demand the same fear. But despite the danger, the Magi choose to bow down to Jesus and protect him with their silence (a wise decision).

In the midst of this story, Matthew pulls a clever trick. To begin the account, he refers to the Roman ruler of Judea as “King Herod.” He does this twice. But after the experts confirm that the “King of the Jews” that the Magi refer to was to be born in Bethlehem (not Herod’s hometown), Matthew drops the “King.” For the rest of the story he is just “Herod.” Of course, we know why. Jesus is the true king. He is King of the Jews, King of Rome, King of the world, and, most importantly, King of our lives.

The unfortunate thing is that we often don’t reflect the behavior of the Magi. If we can use Herod as a representative of all earthly “kings” that we could pledge our allegiance to, we might be shocked to realize we pick him over Jesus a lot.

There are a lot of things that undeservingly receive our worship, but here I just want to visit three of them.

1.    Money

I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but the subject of money really isn’t that. I think it is important that we be honest. Money is one of the biggest threats to your spiritual health. But it can also be one of your greatest tools in advancing the Kingdom of God. The difference is where your allegiance lies.

Of course none of us would say that we love money more than God. But there is a good chance we deceive ourselves. The question is: what does a love of money look like? I think it’s true that where our heart is can be revealed in how we spend our energy, our time, our worries, and well…our money.

Where does the majority of your energy go? Does your job take it all? Is there some left for your family? Your neighbors? Your enemies? Is work just a means of making money or is it an opportunity to spread the Gospel?

What about your worries? Do you lose sleep over your own financial issues more than spiritual issues? Do you worry more about your money than the lack of money that so many around the world experience?

Do you hold on to money or do you live generously for the sake of the Kingdom? Are you more interested in building wealth than giving money away?

If we don’t love money as much as God, I’d like to see us put our money where our heart is.

2.    Safety and Comfort

One of my most tempting “kings” to worship is my own safety and comfort. I like to feel comfortable. I’m not a fan of awkward situations, I don’t like feeling out of place, and I hate being scared. But I often find myself having to make the choice between safety/comfort and Jesus. Though Jesus is our comfort and our rest, following him can be a dangerous task (just ask his apostles). And it definitely can be an uncomfortable one. But we have to make sure we forsake safety and comfort for Jesus every time. So what does a love of safety/comfort look like?

Do you find yourself only spending time with people you enjoy, whether they are good for you or not? Do you have many non-Christian friends? Do all of your friends look like you? Think like you? Or are you intentional about getting to know people who are different?

What kinds of thoughts come up when you pass “bad neighborhoods”? Do you spend time with people who have less than you? Are you willing to meet new people, go to new places, and have new conversations for the sake of the Gospel? Are you really?

If we say we trust in God, I’d like to see us do something that requires some trust.

3.    Yourself

I like myself a lot! And that’s a good thing. I should be confident in who God has made me to be. But most days I walk a fine line between liking myself and worshiping myself. I am filled with pride and have a very hard time emptying myself of it. Even when I preach, I struggle not to make it about myself. I feel safe in assuming that many of you struggle with the same problem. Think about it.

Do you worry about what people think of you more than what they think of God? Is your own “image” more important to you than the advancement of the Kingdom? Are you a different person for different people? Do you look back on things in the past that made you look good rather than focusing on how to make God look good now?   

Are you proud of yourself for being a “good Christian”? Do you act “Christlike” in order to receive praise from others?

Are you aware of the problems that others around you face? Do you have trouble remembering what is happening in other people’s lives?

The truth is, we all struggle with these things. If you think you couldn’t be better at one of these things, you might want to re-read number three. But this is not meant to make you feel guilty. It’s meant to challenge you. In God’s grace, push yourself to be more and more like Jesus. Discipline yourself to be generous, offer everything you have to God, and humble yourself before the true King. And know that no matter how much we fail, God’s grace is enough.

After all, choosing Jesus is always the wise decision. Herod dies at the end. Choosing Jesus over money will always make you richer. The safest place to be is in the middle of God’s will (even if that means being somewhere dangerous). And denying yourself for the sake of Jesus will result in the ultimate reward.