Joyful Moments in Christ

Barriers to Hearing God

In Acts 23, we saw how hatred and prejudice can drown out the voice of God. In Acts 24, we see that greed can have the same destructive effect. Let’s examine the story of Felix and reflect on the lessons it holds for us.

A Missed Opportunity

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.

Acts 24:24-26 (ESV)

Just before this passage, Paul had shared his testimony about his troubles with the Jewish leaders. Felix, familiar with “the Way,” was intrigued and wanted to learn more about Jesus. As we see in Acts 24:24-26, Paul used this opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel. Felix initially seemed receptive, even alarmed by Paul’s words about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. Yet his greed proved to be a stronger influence. Instead of responding to the message and committing to a life aligned with salvation, he clung to his desire for wealth.

The Danger of Loving Money

As Timothy reminds us, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” In Felix’s case, his greed deafened him to the life-changing truth of the Gospel. Although he recognized the potential S to his soul—evidenced by his alarm—his actions revealed a preference for short-term gain over eternal salvation.

Shifting Our Focus to God

This struggle is not unique to Felix. Many of us face similar temptations. When life is good, we are tempted to revel in comfort rather than seek God. When life is hard, we look for quick solutions instead of trusting in his eternal plan. Waiting for tomorrow can feel overwhelming, and thinking about eternity may seem even more distant and difficult to prioritize.

So, how can we shift our perspective and put God first? Being a Christian means surrendering our preferences and making God our King. It means relinquishing control of our lives and trusting him to guide us. Only then can we truly set aside greed, hatred, and prejudice. It is only through this surrender that the Holy Spirit empowers us to resist temptation and embrace the good things God desires for us.

Reflection Questions

1. In what areas of your life do you feel tempted to prioritize short-term gain over eternal treasures?
2. How can you actively draw closer to God when you feel distracted by worldly concerns like wealth or comfort?
3. What steps can you take to trust God’s plan, even when it feels distant or challenging?
4. How can you share the Gospel message with others despite facing temptations or obstacles in your own life?

Reflective Prayer

Consider using these verses to pray using the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

• Adoration: Praise God. Do these verses bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
• Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Do these verses bring any specific sins to mind?
• Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from these verses inspire gratitude?
• Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from these verses inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.