Several of you have asked me about the date for the Friends of Honey Lake Day. Mark your calendars, it will be held May 6th. More details will be forthcoming, but we will begin that Sunday morning with former NFL football all pro star Bill Glass preaching a powerful message in the Honey Lake Plantation church. Throughout the day there will be unbelievable concerts from several groups including country and western, contemporary bands, and old time African American gospel. There will be barbeque, children’s pony rides, plantation tours, airboat rides, and so forth. You won’t want to miss spending this family day at one of God’s absolute best works of art, pristine Honey Lake Plantation, but please don’t hound me about it, I will provide complete details whenever we get through the initial planning stage.
This week I had the honor of speaking to about 150 students who were in grades six through twelve at a local Christian school. My subject was the pursuit of success. I gave my personal testimony and then I summarized by saying that I learned the hard way that we can’t find what we want and need in a needle, or by putting drugs up our noses, or by smoking it; we can’t find it in a barroom or a bedroom; we won’t find it in a bank account, private jet, yacht, grand home, or diamond rings; it won’t come from friends, family, pastor, or attaining some major achievement, or by becoming a powerful CEO or politician. Your social standing in the community won’t give it to you.
They looked rather stunned. I could discern that even at this young tender age they had already begun soaking in the world’s indoctrination process that defines success according to the dictionary’s definition of it; “the attainment of wealth, fame, or power”.
I told them I know plenty of wealthy, famous, and powerful people who are miserable. I cannot envision misery as being a component of success.
I mentioned Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson as two recent examples of those who seemingly had it all: looks, charisma, tremendous talent, wealth, fame, and power. And yet the money, adulation by millions, achievement of near flawless albums, movies, glamour, et al, were to no avail. They died alone and distraught and all of the foregoing material things meant nothing to them.
After I spoke the assistant principal gave a short talk and said I reminded him of King Solomon. I suppose one could compare me to him on a tiny – tiny scale for having tried much of what life has to offer. The book of Ecclesiastes details much of his quest to find his way in life, not the least of which was his accomplishment of great projects, the culmination of which was building the great temple in Jerusalem. He amassed wealth that is unprecedented even today; he shared his wisdom with people from all over the world including the Queen of Sheba who at great risk took a voyage on a ship just to listen to his sage counsel in person; he built huge vineyards and sampled the wine. He wrote a big part of the Bible, (I refer to those writings nearly every day). And who can forget his 1000 wives and 800 concubines? These were the most beautiful and intelligent women in the world and they were all there for his pleasure.
So out of that long list what do you covet? Probably money; it seems there are always those doubters who smirk when they hear that “Money won’t buy happiness”, and say, “Oh yeah, well I’d like to give it a try”. As I look at old Solomon’s list I wouldn’t mind having all those beautiful and intelligent wives and concubines standing by for my pleasure and giving it the old college try.
Ahhh… but alas I know better. The Bible states that King Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived or ever will live. He had it all and tried it all. He summarized in the end that all of that stuff was of no import, he summarized that we should, “Fear God and keep His commands. For this is man’s all”.
To ignore that sagacious (wise) advice would be foolhardy and would be denying the truth of the Bible. He knew first hand that there could be no peace, joy, or love emanating from wealth or all the rest, including having 1000 beautiful wives and 800 concubines.
Yikes! What was I thinking?
Success is finding peace, joy, and love in your life. You can have it if you live in a homeless shelter, single wide mobile home, or big mansion overlooking the ocean. Peace, joy, and love come from Jesus Christ and are free for the asking; however we must be willing to surrender our lives to Him.
Today you undoubtedly are attempting to find your own personal peace, joy, and love and are likely pursuing it in a variety of ways. Are you following Solomon’s advice, or chasing the wind?
Selah…Stop and think about it for a moment.
There is no need for experimentation; Solomon already tried it all and has already told us the key to finding what we want and need. We need God and we need to follow His commandments which can be found in the Bible. There can be happiness and joy in all of our lives by so doing. God wants us all to be successful and doesn’t want anyone to fail; however know that following Jesus is the only way to become successful according to its true definition. If you haven’t tried putting Him number one in your life, I urge you to do so today.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
Eccl. 11:9
Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.