Odysseus wanted the best of both worlds, and he paid dearly for it. His tale is told in The Odyssey, the world-famous poetic book written by Homer in the eighth century. The narrative centers on his ten-year journey back to the kingdom of Ithaca after the end of the Trojan War, and every reader of The Odyssey knows that his return-voyage was not easy. One hazardous threat he faced on his return trip were the Sirens, two ghastly monsters disguised as beautiful women who enchanted travelers with their lovely melodies in an attempt to lure and devour them. Odysseus and his crew were thus instructed to deafen their ears with wax and chain themselves to their ship so they would not be swayed by the seductive tune.

But Odysseus paid no attention. He ordered his men to bind him hand and foot to their ship, but leave his ears open so he might hear the splendid song of the Sirens without being slain. The magical melody soon danced upon the waters, and Odysseus demanded to be released immediately. Then he started straining against the chains, until they dug deeply into his skin and caused fatal bleeding. And it wasn’t until their ship sailed far away from the Sirens that Odysseus understood the shameful and agonizing cost of having things both ways.

Wanting the best of both worlds might be a theme of an eighth-century poetic novel, but it is a timeless problem that exists for believers in the twenty-first century, too. The duplicitous desire to indulge in the sinful pleasures of the world while concurrently savoring the Lord’s goodness is a tricky temptation that all of the Lord’s saints experience. That is why the Scripture is replete with warnings about trying to hold hands with God and the wicked world at the same time. As James said, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4, KJV). And as Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matt. 6:24a).

Love for the world is simply incompatible with love for God (cf. 1 John 2:15-17). Moreover, the Lord will not settle for such divided allegiance, spiritual adultery, half-hearted worship, or the “leftovers” of our love. He detests lukewarm love and delights in wholehearted devotion (Rev. 3:15-16). And most importantly, only the Lord is worthy of all the love and worship we can give (Psalm 96:4; Rev. 4:11); that is why believers are commanded to love the Lord with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and not some of it (Luke 10:27). Living a best-of-both-worlds life might sound appealing, but it is simply not worth it—just ask Odysseus.

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky. 

For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word: