I’m speaking so some student athletes at Thomas University tonight and I want to encourage them to make the right decisions. Recently I spoke to a different crowd of young folks and I had a difficult time giving them real life examples of a point I was trying to make. I suppose my grey hair is catching up with me in trying to relate to youngsters.
My point was that most of our world population is chasing as our ultimate objective the least important things in life. The dictionary defines success as the achievement of wealth, power, fame, and/or the attainment of some big achievement and that is what we seem to want to chase.
While on the surface chasing those dreams seems entirely appropriate, the Bible clearly defines what our priorities should be. Consider this verse in Matthew: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”. In Mark we have a somber reminder of the stakes involved with chasing the wrong dreams: And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
I wanted to give some real life examples of people who had worked hard to attain all the world had to offer and once they attained it found that it was not all that it was cracked up to be. So I whistled off a few names to my young audience: Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix. They looked at me kind of strange, so I tried Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and Kurt Cobain.
More blank stares… Hmmm…
Okay, I’m at a loss at thinking of someone that is closer to their age that they can relate to? Maybe Lady Gaga? Nope, I don’t think she’s dead yet.
Geez!
Finally I just made the generic point that plenty of wealthy, famous, powerful people who have achieved great things according to the world’s standards are miserable and some end up taking their own lives when they discover that the large hole in their heart cannot be filled with what the world seems to desire. Only Jesus Christ can fill that void and it isn’t coming from drugs, alcohol, sex, money, adulation, private jets, yachts, diamonds, or having one’s name at the top of the page.
So is this to say that wealth, fame, power, and the achievement of great things is bad? No, here is the verse in Matthew in its entirety: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Actually the Living Translation states it more to my liking: “and He will give you everything you need”. (Emphasis mine)
I like that, because it’s important to note that what WE think we need might be different than what GOD knows that we need. We should keep in mind that we were created for HIS purpose and not our own. Not everyone needs to be a millionaire, the temptation and the many problems derived from wealth are intense…
So my friends I think we can trust in the verse: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”; however we need to understand that the “all things” are the “all things” within God’s will for our lives and as the verse above clearly points out to us: “and He will give you everything you need”.
We are on this earth, but a scant 77.9 years give or take; eternity is forever. Consider what you will pack for that trip. We cannot take the Rolex, or the fine clothes, grand home, car, golf clubs, over and under Beretta, or swimming pool; nope we can only take the less tangible things that we have done while on this earth.
I don’t know about you but I’m taking my most prized possession, (my relationship with Jesus Christ).
Mark 10:21
Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”