The pursuits some have are the result of worry, a lack of
trust. Many pursue wealth, happiness, even power, because they are afraid they
will lack something, that they will miss out, that they won’t have/be enough.
This shows a lack of trust in God as Provider.
Luke 12:22-32 New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry
about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for
your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body
more than clothing. Consider
the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn,
and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than
the birds! And which of
you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then
you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I
tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass in
the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into
the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of
little faith! And do
not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.
For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your
Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to
you. Do not be afraid,
little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
God has promised to provide, we need to trust Him to do it
and let Him do it rather than worry. (This does not mean we should not work,
but that we shouldn’t worry about having enough.) Trust is more than
acknowledgment, it is resting in Him, relying on Him, waiting on Him. It is
actively giving up our worries to let Him deal with it. Trust in His goodness,
love and character.
Other things the world says we should pursue are things that
are for self. They may not be bad in themselves, but when they are pursued and
desired above God, they become wrong. The key is motive. Why are we pursuing
wealth, power and beauty? Is it to bless others and serve God, or to please and
serve ourselves? Anything we do that puts us above others is sin.
Philippians 2:3-4 New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with
humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look
out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
My pastor often tells a story of when he was in high school
and made a sign for his pastor that read, “Me Third.” In life we are to live
with these priorities: God first, others second, me third. Any time we put
ourselves first we sin because our motives are selfish. Of course we need to
take care of ourselves, but that shouldn’t come before taking care of others.
1 Corinthians 10:31 New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God.
This is our ultimate created purpose as humans. This should
be our highest goal and greatest priority. It should outweigh every other
motive. It is our highest calling.
Aside from wrongfully pursuing things in this world, the
Bible exposes something very interesting about these pursuits. They are empty.
1 John 2:16 New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the
lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is
from the world.
Lust applies to a lot more than sexual desire, it is the
desire for anything we don’t/can’t/shouldn’t have. It is the worship of
something other than God. It is idolatry. The sad thing about idolatry is that
it is not only sin and an abomination before God, it is empty. It is worship of
a god that is not real. It is creating something in the heart that doesn’t exist,
something that is unattainable.
That is why most marriages formed through adultery don’t
last, because they are built in the imagination and reality is something
different. We imagine how it would be married to that other person, but we
can’t have their relationship because we are different people. We create this
other world in our heads that doesn’t exist and then expect it to become
reality. But it doesn’t.
That relationship will never be like we imagine. That desire
will never be satisfied. Those things, that power, will never be enough. We
will always need more. Lust leads us on a never ending journey to nowhere, the
eternal search for something that isn’t real. That is why the Bible says to
seek first His kingdom, then everything else will be added. Everything we truly
need and should desire will come IF we seek Him first, IF we put Him first
above all else. That is why He gives us these “rules”, because He knows what
will truly satisfy and what will cause harm. He wants us to have the best life we
can so He tells us how to get it.
John 10:10 New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came
that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
He is the answer. He is the key to our searching, our
desires. It is only through Him that we can be fulfilled and satisfied.
Everything in this world will only leave us wanting more, unquenched. Only He
can fill.
Find your fulfillment, your contentment, your desire in Him,
in the only one Who can satisfy you. Stop chasing the nothingness of this world
which only leaves you feeling empty. Seek Him and let Him fill you.
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