“The
world says: ‘You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich
and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs
and demand more.’ This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that
this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the
poor, envy and murder.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky
So when is “enough” really enough? Less than
a year ago, I did a funeral for an 18 year old who’d overdosed on heroin. While
it was a tragic death, most were shocked because of her age, but not shocked because
she had so much to lose and was leaving it all behind. Over the years, I’ve
done funerals for several suicide victims. Again, most are shocked by the
tragedy yet not because the individual took their own life. Some were seeking
to escape consequences of bad choices they’d made. Others had recently broken
up with someone or were unemployed. In other words, from the world’s
perspective, they were at the bottom and they didn’t particularly have anything
to live for.
But is there any real difference though
between them and Oscar-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman? Seemingly, Hoffman
had it all – all that we’re continually told has value and meaning. His net
worth is estimated to be $30 million yet he died from an apparent heroin overdose.
And he’s not some fluke. To learn of a “star” who’s not addicted to
alcohol or drugs seems like it’s the exception. We’re not shocked when we learn
some powerful politician wasn’t satisfied with the position or power, and had
to have more, so they took kickbacks or had sexual liaisons. The same is true
in sports. The recent revelations about Ryan Braun or Alex Rodriguez were sad,
yet sadly, not shocking. Enough is never
enough.
It’s easy to conclude that it’s just the rich
and famous, but is it? How many content, joy-filled people do you know? How
many Christians do you know who are content and joy-filled? That begs the
question: Is the Bible really true? Can we really trust Jesus? After all Jesus
said, “My grace is sufficient for you”
(2 Corinthians 12:9). But is it? Do we believe that?
While most of us aren’t foolish enough to
believe joy, contentment and meaning are found in a needle, we do erroneously
believe that if we just have _________, then we’ll be satisfied. But we won’t!
Why are the statistics for divorce among
Christians nearly as high as those who don’t know the Lord? It’s the erroneous
belief that if I was just out of this marriage or had someone who really loved
me, then I’d have joy, contentment and meaning. How many
Christians think if they just had more money, a better job, a nicer house,
better kids, a newer car, better health, etc., etc., etc…then they’d be
satisfied. But joy, contentment and meaning are not circumstancial. Some of the
most miserable people you’ll ever meet live in Florida Paradise .
Or, they’re addicted to pleasure, relaxation and recreation much like Philip
Seymour Hoffman was to heroin. They need another “fix” to have joy, contentment
and meaning. This may shock you but God did not design us to live for the
weekend. Or, to find joy, contentment and meaning temporarily only when we’re
vacationing in some exotic place…or, in some new relationship or a new house or
with that new whatever. Most of us are as foolish as Adam and Eve who believed
Satan’s lie that there had to be something more than God and what He’d already
provided. Satan’s lie hasn’t changed.
Let me encourage you to list out everything,
and yes, I mean everything that you feel makes you unhappy. Don’t leave an
option out. Think of everything you’ve bemoaned over the course of the past week
that you wish you had or didn’t have. For many, a day might be enough.
So if you had all those things, if ALL of
them were “fixed” would you have joy, contentment and meaning? No, not unless
you first had a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Augustine was right, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and
our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
True power is not found in having our
external circumstances changed. True power is having joy, contentment and
meaning in the midst of whatever our circumstances are. Most of us live under the circumstances. True power is
found when we really believe and plug into Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That’s why Paul could write, “I have learned in whatever situation I am
to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any
and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need.”
Remember those famous words from Albert
Einstein, “Insanity: doing the same thing
over and over again and expecting different results.” Too many of us are
“insane.” We think if I just live there, go there, have that, or even that
person – then I’ll have joy, contentment and meaning. It’s trying to find a
“fix” in something, anything. When the only “fix” that will truly satisfy is found
in Jesus Christ. Most people are shaking their heads at the tragedy of Philip
Seymour Hoffman, yet most of them are just as foolish. Though they’re not
looking for satisfaction in a vial of heroin, they’re seeking to find it in
something else. And when it doesn’t work, they usually just up the dose.
Are you satisfied? Is your life filled with
joy and contentment? My friend, Jesus is the only person who can satisfy your
soul. Stop looking for your “fix” somewhere else and come to Jesus. His promise
is true, “Come to Me, all who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Will you do
that?
No comments:
Post a Comment