The Pot O'Gold

People often joke about the proverbial pot of gold that is said to be found at the end of a rainbow protected by leprechauns. As a child I used to wish I could chase a rainbow to find that gold and have no more cares in the world. I didn’t know then that it is actually impossible to physically get to the end of a rainbow because they are made by the reflection of sunlight through raindrops which is dependant on the position of the viewer. It’s basically an optical illusion and will continue to move according to the position of the beholder, similar to a mirage. I’ve discovered that we have different “pots of gold” we chase that are impossible to find.

What do we search for? For many it is love, affirmation, acceptance, status. The root behind many of the things we seek are not tangible. We pursue marriage and relationships because we want love. We climb the ladder because we want praise and acceptance. We buy cool things to gain the affirmation and attention of those around us. Even our draw to social media is really an effort to fill that void of attention, approval and acceptance.

Unfortunately, we often seek for those things in the wrong places. The intangible things driving us can be found in many ways, and are not bad as long as they don’t become idols, but if we allow them to control us, if we desire them more than we desire God, if we look to find them on our terms rather than waiting for God’s plan, they will destroy us. That is when they become that pot of gold that can never be found. Love is good and something we were created to have and give, but if we are willing to compromise ourselves for it, it will disappoint us. If we try to get it in our timing, pursuing physical relationships rather than waiting for God’s plan of marriage, it will hurt us rather than fulfill us. If we expect those who profess to love us, even in the proper context like marriage and family, to completely fulfill us, it will never be enough.

Ecclesiastes 2:11 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Solomon knew this well. The first part of chapter 2 he explains that he took everything he wanted. He did not withhold anything from himself. He did all he could to please himself, everything possible…but it wasn’t enough. Nothing of this world can satisfy. Some of these are things we can and should have, but we cannot expect them to be enough, to completely fulfill us. Behold, it is vanity to expect it!

Matthew 6:33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Only God can satisfy. Only God is enough to fill and fulfill. We need to seek Him first, before we try to fill the void with everything else. I just told my teen Sunday school girls that no man, no matter how wonderful, is capable of making us feel fully loved, and until we find love and fulfillment in God, no relationship will satisfy.

Psalm 107:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For He has satisfied the thirsty soul,
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

John 4:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Jesus not only has what we need to be fulfilled, but He wants to fill us. He wants us to come to Him, to be satisfied in Him. He can and will satisfy the thirsty and hungry if they will come to Him, if they will surrender themselves to Him.

What do you seek? Are you hungry or thirsty, needy? Will you come to Him to be satisfied, to be filled to overflowing?