Psalm 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

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There are certain things in life that if we truly love them, there will be a counterbalance of hate for what opposes them. An example of this counterbalance could be found in farming. If you love farming and love raising bountiful crops, you must hate the pests that will destroy your crops.

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If someone said they love farming and they also love those pests that eat their crops, it would be pretty strange. The same could be said for someone who loves their farming, but does not care whether there are bugs eating the crops. This simply cannot work if you want a successful, crop-producing farm.

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We must hate the bugs if we are going to love the outcome of the farming! We must search out and destroy the bugs with the same energy we tend to the plants with water, pruning, and nutrients. If we do not deal with the problems that destroy what we’re trying to grow, our work is all in vain.

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In God’s Word, we are told of a similar love-hate relationship. This relationship is a battle between the Bible and our vain thoughts. If we truly love God, this is displayed through our reading His Word, going to church, loving our fellow Christians, and reaching the lost. But if we don’t hate the vain thoughts that plague us, how can we survive spiritually?

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Many a Christian is double-minded and therefore, unstable. They want to love God, which is great, but they can’t give up their love of the world. They may justify their love of the world through excuses, but they are no different than the farmer who says he loves his crop but ignores/loves the bugs.

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May we strive to weed out the ungodly thoughts, vain ambitions, love of this world, or anything that would prevent us from being fruitful for our Lord and the work He has for us.